ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Family Functioning and Suicidal Behavior in Adolescent Inpatients with Mood Disorders

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Abstract

Objective

This study was designed to identify family and parental characteristics associated with suicidal behavior (active intent, gesture, attempt) among adolescent inpatients with mood disorders.

Method

Subjects were 32 suicidal adolescent inpatients with mood disorders, 32 nonsuicidal adolescent inpatients with mood disorders, and 38 normal comparison adolescents. A group comparison design was used. Adolescent measures were the Family Assessment Device and two semistructured interviews (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Social Adjustment Inventory for Children and Adolescents). Parent measures were the Symptom Checklist-90 and the Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report.

Results

Fathers of suicidal adolescents reported more depression and family unit problems than did fathers of nonsuicidal and normal comparison adolescents, even after controlling for adolescents' depression severity. Suicidal adolescents, in turn, reported less active and communicative relationships with fathers. Differences among suicidal and nonsuicidal adolescents' perceptions of general family functioning were not significant after controlling for adolescents' depression severity.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the importance of treating the depressed and potentially suicidal adolescent within the family system and attending to the nature and quality of adolescents' relationships with fathers as well as with mothers. Findings also highlight interactions between suicidal adolescents' depression severity and their negative perceptions of family functioning. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1993, 32, 6:1198–1206.

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  • Cited by (0)

    This research was supported by a Biomedical Research Grant from the University of Michigan Medical School. Preliminary findings were presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, August 1991, and the International Conference on Suicidal Behavior, Pittsburgh, PA, June 1992.

    The authors thank Benjamin Shain, M.D., and Jackie Smith. We also thank Laurie McGovern, Aaron Werbel, and Sean Gargan as well as the nurses, social workers, and activity therapists of the Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient Program.

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