Suicidal Behaviour in National and International Adult Adoptees: a Swedish Cohort Study

6065 international adoptees were compared to 7340 national adoptees & 1274312 non-adopted study subjects, all born between 1963-1973, & followed-up until 2002. Cox regression of person years was used in multivariate analyses to compare risks for suicide & suicide attempt. International adoptees had clearly increased risks for suicide attempts & suicide after adjustment for gender, age, & socioeconomic factors. National adoptees had lower risks than international adoptees but increased risks compared to non-adoptees. Female international adoptees’ risk for suicide attempt was elevated to an even greater extent than in male international adoptees, when compared to the general population. (45 refs.) JA