DEPRESSIVE-DISORDERS AND SUICIDAL INTENT IN ADOLESCENT SUICIDE ATTEMPTERS

This study describes the relationships between the presence of a depre ssive disorder, suicidal intent, and the medical seriousness of a suic ide attempt in an adolescent sample. Consecutive adolescents who attem pted suicide were evaluated for the presence or absence of current DSM -III-R depressive disorders (DD). Adolescent suicide attempters with D D were compared with those without DD regarding the level of their sui cide intent and the medical seriousness of their suicide attempt. Adol escent suicide attempters with a diagnosis of DD were found to have a higher level of suicidal intent than were those without depressive ill ness. There was no relationship between the medical seriousness of the suicide attempt and the presence of DD. Clinicians should specificall y assess for DSM-III-R DD as a means of determining suicidal intent in adolescent suicide attempters.