ADHD and Aggression as Correlates of Suicidal Behavior in Assaultive Prepubertal Psychiatric Inpatients

43 psychiatrically hospitalized prepubertal children were assessed regarding their assaultive & suicidal behaviours. These children were subsequently classified as assaultive/suicidal or assaultive-only. Assaultive/suicidal children had higher aggression & suicidal-scale scores, but not higher derepssion scores, & were likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Aggression mediated the relation between ADHD & suicidal behaviours. Differences in symptom pattern between these two subtypes of assaultive inpatient children are interpreted as a basis for distinctive screening procedures. (59 refs.)