SELF-REPORTED SUICIDAL IDEATION IN ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS

In an investigation of the psychosocial correlates of suicidal ideatio n in adolescent inpatients, the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI) was administered to 108 inpatients between 12 and 17 years of age who were diagnosed with mixed psychiatric disorders. A series of multiple regression analyses that controlled for gender, ethnicity, age, diagno sis of a mood disorder, and a history of a past suicide attempt were t hen used to examine the relationships of the Beck Depression Inventory , Anxiety Inventory, and Hopelessness Scale (BHS) with the BSI. Regard less of the series, the BHS contributed unique variance to the explana tion of the BSI scores. The results are discussed as supporting the us e of the BSI with adolescent inpatients and indicating that hopelessne ss is related to suicidal ideation when depression is controlled for.