Suicide in adolescents with disruptive disorders

Objective: To determine the psychiatric risk factors for suicide in adolesc ents with disruptive disorders. Method: Fifty-nine adolescent suicide compl eters and 18 community controls, both having a probable or definite current DSM-III diagnosis of disruptive disorders, were compared. Results: adolesc ents with disruptive disorders who committed suicide had higher rates of cu rrent substance abuse, past suicide attempt, family history of substance ab use, and family history of mood disorder than disruptive community controls . Conclusions: Disruptive adolescents appear to be at risk for completed su icide when comorbid substance abuse and past history of suicide attempt are present. The risk increases if the adolescents have a past history of phys ical abuse and if they have parents with substance abuse and mood disorders . Clinicians should be aware of these risk factors and implement active int erventions to prevent suicide. Treatment should focus on treating not only the adolescents, but also their family members. The findings of this study also highlight the need for future research in the prevention of suicide in adolescents with disruptive disorders and comorbid substance abuse.