[Suicidal tendencies in adolescence : Dysfunctional familiar communication as risk factor]

Suicide is one of the four most common causes of death in adolescence worldwide. Although it is well known that suicidal people often have insufficient communication strategies, the importance of family communication for adolescent suicidality has not yet been sufficiently explored.

The aim of this study was to provide a systematic review of family communication as a risk factor for adolescent suicidal tendencies and to develop treatment recommendations.

In this study a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL and PsychINFO. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated and a summary prepared.

A total of 195 studies were extracted and screened for their suitability. Of these studies, 7 which examined a total of 13,107 adolescents aged 11-22 years were included in this review and critically evaluated. Of the studies evaluated six found a correlative relationship between dysfunctional parent-child communication and adolescent suicidality. Communication with the mother appears to be more essential.

The results of this literature search indicate that functional communication with parents seems to be protective for suicidal adolescents. From this, recommendations can be derived for preventive measures in families with adolescents who are otherwise at increased risk of suicide. Longitudinal study designs are needed to conclusively answer the research question.