Maternal suicidality and risk of suicidality in offspring: findings from a community study

This study evaluated the associations between suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in mothers and various aspects of suicidality in their offspring in a representative community sample.

Baseline and 4-year follow-up data were used from the Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology study, a prospective, longitudinal community study of adolescents and young adults. Results are based on 933 adolescents who completed follow-up and for whom direct diagnostic information for the biological mother was available. Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were assessed in adolescents and mothers with the Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview.

Compared to offspring of mothers without suicidality, offspring of mothers reporting suicide attempts showed a remarkably higher risk for suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts and a tendency toward suicide attempts at an earlier age. Associations were comparable for male and female offspring. Transmission of maternal suicidality was roughly stable with control for maternal comorbid psychopathology.

The offspring of mothers with suicide attempts are at a markedly increased risk for suicidality themselves and tend to manifest suicide attempts earlier than offspring of mothers without suicidality. Suicidality seems to run in families, independent of depression and other psychopathology.