Prediction of Suicide Intent in Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Adolescent Inpatients: A Research Note

The relationship among depressive symptoms, anxiety, hopelessness, and suicidal intent was explored in a group of 77 adolescents who had been hospitalized after attempting suicide. Regression analyses indicated that hopelessness was the only significant predictor of suicide intent in Caucasian patients, and depressed mood was the only significant predictor in the Aboriginal group. Clinicians should be aware that measures of hopelessness may be of limited value in assessing suicidal risk in Aboriginal adolescents.     

Hospitalizations for Suicide‐Related Drug Poisonings and Co‐occurring Alcohol Overdoses in Adolescents (Ages 12–17) and Young Adults (Ages 18–24) in the United States, 1999–2008: Results from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample

Drug poisoning is the leading method of suicide‐related deaths among females and third among males in the United States. Alcohol can increase the severity of drug poisonings, yet the prevalence of alcohol overdoses in suicide‐related drug poisonings (SRDP) remains unclear. Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample was examined to determine rates of inpatient hospital stays for SRDP and co‐occurring alcohol overdoses in adolescents (ages 12–17) and young adults (ages 18–24) between 1999 and 2008. Among adolescents, there were 14,615 hospitalizations for drug poisonings in 2008, of which 72% (10,462) were suicide‐related at a cost of $43 million. Rates of SRDP in this age group decreased between 1999 and 2008. The prevalence of co‐occurring alcohol overdoses increased from 5% in 1999 to 7% in 2008. Among young adults, there were 32,471 hospitalizations for drug poisonings in 2008, of which 64% (20,746) were suicide‐related at a cost of $110 million. Rates of SRDP did not change significantly between 1999 and 2008. The prevalence of co‐occurring alcohol overdoses increased from 14% in 1999 to 20% in 2008. Thus, while rates of SRDP decreased for adolescents and remained unchanged for young adults, the prevalence of co‐occurring alcohol overdoses increased for both age groups. Such hospitalizations provide important opportunities to employ intervention techniques to prevent further suicide attempts.     

Are There Gender‐Specific Risk Factors for Suicidal Activity among Patients with Schizophrenia and Depression?

Are there gender‐specific risk factors for suicidal activity among patients with schizophrenia and depression? A total of 74 schizophrenia patients (51 men, 23 women) and 77 unipolar nonpsychotic depressed patients (26 men, 51 women) from the Chicago Follow‐up Study were studied prospectively at 2 years posthospitalization and again at 7.5 years. Poor early posthospital global functioning is significantly associated with later suicidal activity only for men in both our schizophrenia and depressive samples. Early display of psychotic symptoms is associated with later suicidal activity among male schizophrenia patients. Early cognitive impairment is not significantly associated with later suicidal activity for any of the four groups of patients. The study results must be seen as exploratory and will hopefully spur future research on this important topic.