Stressful life events, psychopathology, and adolescent suicide: a case control study

Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1993 Fall;23(3):179-87.

Abstract

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 likely to have experienced: (1) interpersonal conflict with parents and with boy/girlfriends, (2) disruption of a romantic attachment, (3) legal or disciplinary problems. Legal or disciplinary problems were more commonly associated with suicide in conduct and substance abuse disordered youth. Interpersonal loss was more commonly associated with suicide in substance abuse as well. Even after controlling for psychopathology, legal and disciplinary problems in the past year were associated with an increased risk of suicide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Life Change Events*
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Pennsylvania / epidemiology
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Risk Factors
  • Stress, Psychological / diagnosis
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology
  • Suicide / statistics & numerical data*
  • United States / epidemiology