Suicidal ideation in anxiety-disordered youth

Evidence is mixed regarding an independent association between anxiety and suicidality in youth. Study 1 examined suicidal ideation in treatment-referred, anxiety-disordered youth (N = 312, aged 7-17). Forty-one percent of anxiety-disordered youth endorsed suicidal ideation. Anxiety disorder severity, global impairment, and current depressive symptoms predicted suicidal ideation in a multivariate model. Study 2 compared youth (N = 216, aged 7-14) with and without anxiety disorders. Higher rates of suicidal ideation were associated with anxiety diagnosis, and levels of anxiety predicted suicidal ideation after controlling for comorbid depressive disorders, current depressive symptoms, and global impairment. Results support an association between anxiety disorders and suicidal ideation in treatment-referred youth and recommend routine screening for suicidal ideation in this population.