Perception of Rejecting and Neglectful Parenting in Childhood Relates to Lifetime Suicide Attempts for Females – but not for Males

343 patients in Sydney, New South Wales who met DSM-IV criteria for depression completed a self-report questionnaire regarding perception of parental rearing & responded to a probe question assessing lifetime suicide attempts. Female patients who perceived themselves as rejected/neglected by either parent in childhood had a greater chance of making at least one lifetime suicide attempt. No such associations were found for males. Further research is called for to explicate any such gender specificity. (31 refs.)