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Construction of an Index for Predicting Suicide Attempts in Depressed Adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

C. W. M. Kienhorst*
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, University of Utrecht, Department of Clinical, Health and Personality Psychology, University of Leiden
E. J. De Wilde
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, University of Utrecht
R. F. W. Diekstra
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical, Health and Personality Psychology, University of Leiden
W. H. G. Wolters
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, University of Utrecht
*
University Hospital for Children and Youth, Psychosocial Department, Postbox 18009, 3501 CA Utrecht, The Netherlands

Abstract

A group of 48 adolescents who recently attempted suicide and 66 depressed adolescents were compared on sociodemographic, behavioural, psychological and relational variables. The variables which proved significant were used in different combinations in stepwise logistic regression analyses, resulting in seven variables which served as the content of an index of risk. The sensitivity of the index was 90% and the specificity 83%. At one-year follow-up the occurrence of a suicide attempt correlated with score on the instrument.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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