Suicidal behavior and parental psychopathology in hospitalized depressed children

This study describes the suicidal behavior of hospitalized depressed childr en and assesses its relationship to psychopathology and suicidal behavior i n their parents. Subjects were 58 consecutively hospitalized prepubertal ch ildren with a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD), and 58 age- and gender-matched children hospitalized for psychiatric diagnoses oth er than a mood disorder. Clinical interviews and structured diagnostic inst ruments were reviewed to determine the children's suicidal behavior and the ir parents' history of psychopathology. Suicidal ideation, suicidal intent, suicidal plans, and suicide attempts were more frequent in JUDD children c ompared to nondepressed children. When MDD and control samples were stratif ied as to presence of suicidal behavior in the child, psychopathology was h igh in parents from all subgroups. Intensity of suicidal behavior in the de pressed and nondepressed children was not associated with an altered patter n of psychopathology in their parents. Hospitalized MDD children had increa sed suicidal behavior compared to inpatient psychiatric control children. H owever, suicidal behavior in the children was not associated with increased psychopathology or an altered pattern of psychopathology in their parents. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.