Childhood Predictors of Completed and Severe Suicide Attempts: Findings From the Finnish 1981 Birth Cohort Study

Predictive associations between childhood psychopathologic disorders at the age of 8 years & later suicide & severe suicide attempts were studied in a birth cohort that included 5302 Finns born in 1981 & examined at the age of 8. 54 individuals had either died by suicide or made a serious attempt resulting in hospital admission. Most of the males had psychiatric problems by the age of 8 indicating a trajectory that persists throughout life. However, severe suicidality in females was not predicted by psychopathologic disorders at age 8. Male suicide outcome was predicted most strongly by comorbid conduct & internalizing problems. (56 refs.)