Differences between adolescent suicide attempters and depressed adolescents

Most of the characteristics differentiating between adolescent attempters and nonattempters do not have discriminative power in comparing 48 adolescents who recently attempted suicide with 66 depressed adolescents. These characteristics may probably be attributed to an affective disorder that is present in most of the suicide attempters. However, suicide attempters, compared with the depressed group, live in more problematic circumstances (such as family disruption or sexual abuse) and have a cognitive style that promotes a more negative evaluation of events and situations. Their depressive symptoms are distinguished from the depressed group by withdrawal and isolation, besides maintaining a hopeless and negative expectation of the future. Furthermore, there are reasons to accept the idea that suicidal behavior is a serious alternative within their behavioral repertoire. Based on these findings, a psychological interpretation is given concerning the dynamics leading to a suicide attempt. Also, intervention strategies are discussed.