Predicting adolescent suicidality: comparing multiple informants and assessment techniques.

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Mental Health Research
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Adolescent suicidality presents a significant public health challenge in the United States.
• Identifying reliable risk factors for adolescent suicidality, such as depression and conduct problems, remains a challenge.
• Existing assessment methods for these risk factors lack consistent agreement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of multiple informants and assessment techniques in identifying adolescent suicidality risk factors.
• To determine which assessment methods best predict concurrent and future suicidality in adolescents.
• To inform clinical recommendations for assessing adolescent suicidality risk.

Main Methods:

• A sample of over 460 families participated, involving multiple informants: mothers, fathers, the adolescent, and a sibling.
• Assessment techniques included paper-pencil instruments, observer ratings, and diagnostic interviews.
• Suicidality was assessed concurrently and at a two-year follow-up.

Main Results:

• Adolescent self-reported paper-pencil instruments and diagnostic interviews showed strong associations with current and future suicidality.
• Parental reports of adolescent emotions and behaviors also proved valuable in risk assessment.
• Observed behaviors were found to be ineffective in predicting suicidality risk.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent self-report measures (paper-pencil and interviews) are highly recommended for assessing suicidality risk.
• Parental reports offer supplementary insights into adolescent risk factors.
• Clinical practice should prioritize adolescent self-report and emotional assessments for effective suicidality risk evaluation.