Abstract

SAUCEDA-GARCIA, Juan Manuel; LARA-MUNOZ, Ma. del Carmen  and  FOCIL-MARQUEZ, Mónica. Self-inflicted violence in adolescence: the suicide attempt. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2006, vol.63, n.4, pp.223-231. ISSN 1665-1146.

Introduction. Objective: our aim was to compare degrees of depression and impulsivity in a clinical sample of adolescents with suicide attempts. Material and methods. We studied adolescents of both sexes who attempted suicide and were brought to a psychiatric hospital in Mexico City in a semester. Clinical diagnosis was included in 3 possible groups: group I (behavioral disorders), group II (affective disorders) and group III (mixed disorders). Patients also responded scales in order to measure depression and other types of psychological problems. Results. A total of 65 patients (56 girls and 9 boys), with first or repeated suicide attempts, were evaluated. Depressive type diagnosis was present in 75% and impulsiveness in 42%. Impulsivity was significantly higher in boys than in girls. Overdosing was the most employed method in the suicide attempts of female patients. Psychopathology was more severe among depressed adolescents. Conclusions. There is more depression than impulsivity among adolescents who attempt suicide. Depressed adolescents show more psychopathology and family problems than non-depressed adolescents, with statistical significance. So far, this is the largest study in a clinical sample of Mexican adolescents who attempted suicide.

Keywords : Adolescents; suicide attempts; mood disorders.

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