Familial Transmission of Suicidal Behavior: Factors Mediating the Relationship Between Childhood Abuse and Offspring Suicide Attempts

The relationship between reported childhood abuse & the familial transmission of suicidal behaviour & related risk factors was studied. 507 offspring of 271 parent probands with major depressive disorder were compared according to reported childhood abuse history on demographic, diagnostic, & clinical variables related to risk for suicidal behaviour. Reported childhood sexual abuse, but not physical abuse, in the proband correlated with suicide attempts, posttraumatic stress disorder, earlier onset on major depressive disorder, higher levels of impulsivity, & greater likelihood of childhood sexual abuse in the offspring. Transmission of suicide risk across generations is related to the familial transmission of sexual abuse & impulsivity. (71 refs.)