Mood disorders and severe psychosocial impairment characterize adolescent suicidal female outpatients

Author： Pelkonen Mirjami Marttunen Mauri Pulkkinen Erkki Laippala Pekka Aro Hillevi Lönnqvist Jouko

ISSN： 0803-9488

Source： Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, Vol.54, Iss.3, 2000-10, pp. : 189-194

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Abstract

Among adolescents referred between 1984 and 1989 to an outpatient clinic and followed up 6 years, 50 suicidal females were compared with 72 non-suicidal females, as well as with 37 suicidal surviving males, in terms of individual and treatment-related factors. Referral by health care professional, a history of previous inpatient care and mood disorders were more common among the suicidal females compared with the non-suicidal females. The proportion of those who had attempted suicide was higher among suicidal females than among suicidal surviving males (72% vs. 51%). Severe psychosocial impairment, psychotropic medication and a recommendation for inpatient treatment characterized both suicidal females and males. Psychosocial treatment modalities meeting the specific needs of mood-disordered adolescent female suicidal outpatients need to be developed.