Citation

Olsson GI. Int. J. Adolesc. Med. Health 1999; 11(3-4): 369-379.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Freund Publishing)

DOI

10.1515/IJAMH.1999.11.3-4.369

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

High-school students screened for depression and suicide attempts were interviewed for diagnosis and psychosocial factors (DICA-R-A). Three groups, each with 75 students, matched for sex and educational program were created: one with prior suicide attempts, one with depression without suicide attempts and one without depression. Violence and other problems in the family as well as violent acts by the adolescents themselves were compared between the three groups. Family problems were more common among both suicidal and depressed than among nondepressed students. Family violence in the form of physical abuse of the adolescents themselves as well as of other family members was more frequent among suicidal than among depressed and healthy students. Violence used both by parents and by adolescents was also much more common among suicide attempters than among those depressed. The suicidal adolescents had committed more violent acts, had more conduct disorder and alcohol abuse than the other groups. There was a relation between alcohol abuse and violence. The conclusion is that adolescents with suicide attempts have experienced more family violence, especially physical abuse, and have themselves a more violent behaviour than both depressed and nondepressed controls.

Language: en

Keywords

abuse; Adolescen; adolescence; adolescent; alcohol abuse; article; controlled study; depression; Depression; education program; family violence; female; high school; human; major clinical study; male; Physical abuse; social psychology; suicide; suicide attempt; Suicide attempt; violence; Violence