ADOLESCENT SUICIDE, DEPRESSION AND FAMILY DYSFUNCTION

This study investigated associations between adolescents' perceptions of their family dynamics (Mch?aster Family Assessment Device, FAD) and depression, suicide thoughts and attempts. High school students (mean age 15.2 years) completed self-report questionnaires including the Be ck Depression Inventory (BDI), the FAD, questions about suicidal thoug hts, plans and attempts, deliberate self harm, and selected life exper iences. Univariate analysis showed that family dysfunction measured on the FAD is associated with thinking and planning suicide, deliberate self harm, suicide attempts, as well as severe depression (BDI greater than or equal to 22). Despite this, stepwise regression indicated tha t family dysfunction influences suicide behaviors indirectly through o ther variables such as depression. The FAD is recommended as a useful addition to questionnaires seeking to identify vulnerability to both d epression and adolescent attempted suicide in early detection studies.