STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS, PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND ADOLESCENT SUICIDE - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

The relationship between stressful life events and adolescent suicide was assessed in 67 adolescent suicide victims and 67 matched community controls. In the year before death, suicide completers were more like ly to have experienced: (1) interpersonal conflict with parents and wi th boy/girlfriends, (2) disruption of a romantic attachment, (3) legal or disciplinary problems. Legal or disciplinary problems were more co mmonly associated with suicide in conduct and substance abuse disorder ed youth. Interpersonal loss was more commonly associated with suicide in substance abuse as well. Even after controlling for psychopatholog y, legal and disciplinary problems in the past year were associated wi th an increased risk of suicide.