Psychiatric Diagnoses and Comorbidity in Relation to Suicidal Behavior Among Psychiatrically Hospitalized Adolescents

This study examined relations between suicidal behaviour history & psychiatric functioning. Adolescents, aged 12-17, admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit, were categorized by suicidal behaviour history based on self- & clinician-report data. Severity of suicide ideation increased with severity of suicidal behaviour history. Females were disproportionately represented among multiple attempters. Multiple attempters were more likely to be diagnosed with at least one extermalizing disorder & to have more than one comorbid diagnosis than adolescents with no suicidal behaviour or a history of ideation only. (42 refs.)