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Examining the Impact of Psychiatric Diagnosis and Comorbidity on the Medical Lethality of Adolescent Suicide Attempts
Author(s) -
Mc Manama O’Brien Kimberly H.,
Berzin Stephanie C.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.2012.00102.x
Subject(s) - comorbidity , psychiatry , substance abuse , lethality , depression (economics) , clinical psychology , suicide prevention , poison control , suicide attempt , medicine , suicide methods , injury prevention , psychology , medical emergency , suicide rates , economics , biology , genetics , macroeconomics
Specific psychiatric diagnoses and comorbidity patterns were examined to determine if they were related to the medical lethality of suicide attempts among adolescents presenting to an urban general hospital ( N = 375). Bivariate analysis showed that attempters with substance abuse disorders had higher levels of lethality than attempters without substance abuse. Regression results indicated having depression comorbid with any other diagnosis was not associated with medical lethality. However, having a substance abuse disorder was associated with higher suicide attempt lethality, highlighting the importance of substance abuse as a risk factor for lethal suicide attempts in adolescents. This finding stimulates critical thinking around the understanding of suicidal behavior in youth and the development and implementation of treatment strategies for suicidal adolescents with substance abuse disorders.