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Affective, behavioral, and cognitive functioning in adolescents with multiple suicide attempts.
Christianne Esposito1, Anthony Spirito, Julie Boergers
1Brown Medical School and Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior
|December 26, 2003
Summary
Adolescents with multiple suicide attempts show more severe depression, anger, and hopelessness than single attempters. Targeting anger and affect dysregulation may reduce future suicide risk.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Adolescent Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Adolescent suicide remains a significant public health concern.
- Understanding risk factors for repeated suicide attempts is crucial for effective intervention.
- Previous research indicates differences in functioning between single and multiple suicide attempters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare affective, behavioral, and cognitive functioning in adolescents with multiple suicide attempts (MA) versus single suicide attempters (SA).
- To identify specific clinical and psychological variables differentiating these groups.
- To inform targeted treatment strategies for reducing recurrent suicidal behavior.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study design was employed.
- Forty-seven adolescents with multiple suicide attempts were compared to 74 single suicide attempters.
- Assessment included psychiatric diagnoses, depressive symptoms, affect regulation, self-mutilation, alcohol use, and hopelessness.
Main Results:
- The MA group exhibited higher rates of mood disorders, severe depressive symptoms, and anger compared to the SA group.
- Adolescents with MA also showed higher rates of disruptive behavior disorders, affect dysregulation, and serious self-mutilation.
- After controlling for mood disorder diagnosis, significant differences persisted in anger, affect dysregulation, and serious self-mutilation.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents with multiple suicide attempts present with distinct affective and behavioral profiles compared to single attempters.
- Affective dysregulation and anger appear to be key factors associated with repeated suicide attempts, independent of mood disorder diagnosis.
- Clinical interventions for adolescent suicide attempters should prioritize addressing anger management and improving affect regulation skills to mitigate the risk of future suicidal behavior.