One-Year Follow-Up of Suicidal Adolescents: Parental History of Mental Health Problems and Time to Post-Hospitalization Attempt

This longitudinal study of recently hospitalized suicidal youth examined parental mental health history in addition to several indices of adolescent functioning as risk factors for time-to-suicide attempt over a 1-year period. 352 adolescents completed self-report & interview assessments within 1 week of hospitalization & 6 weeks, 3, 6, & 12 months post-hospitalization. Multivariable proportional hazards regression modeled time-to-suicide attempt. Results indicate adolescents were almost twice as likely to make a suicide attempt if they had at least one biological parent with mental health problems. Risk also increased for youth with baseline histories of multiple previous suicide attempts, more severe suicide ideation, & more severe functional impairment. (49 refs.)