Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Suicide attempts more common in offspring of depressed parents exposed to suicidal behaviour than unexposed offspring

Statistics from



Are offspring exposed to suicidal behaviour more likely to attempt suicide than offspring not exposed to suicidal behaviour?


449 offspring (52% male, mean age 19±8 years) aged over 10 years, of 255 probands (83% female, mean age 45±10 years) with diagnosed depressive episodes (81% major depressive disorder, 19% bipolar disorder; DSM-IV). A lifetime history of mood disorder was present in 36% of offspring. Participants were referred from inpatient units, outpatient departments, referring psychiatrists and advertisements.

Main exclusions

Offspring with mental retardation; probands with mental retardation, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.


Two university hospital sites in Pittsburgh and New York; recruitment period not stated.


Exposure to suicide behaviour, assessed by interview with the participants. Suicide attempts were defined as self-injurious behaviour with an inferred or stated intention to die; suicidal ideation was defined as a person thinking about killing themselves. Offspring exposed to suicidal ideation or threat were designated a low-degree exposure group while offspring exposed to suicide attempts or completed suicide were designated a high-degree exposure group. Exposure to suicide was also classified as first-hand (presence at the event) or second-hand (hearing about the event). Comparisons between exposed and non-exposed offspring were made using generalised estimating equations and generalised least-squares models.


Lifetime suicide history using the Columbia Suicide History Form.



Cross-sectional study.

Main results

212 (47%) offspring were exposed to suicidal behaviour (parental suicidal behaviour 33%; non-parental 51%; parental and non-parental 14%). Of exposed offspring, 78% experienced high-degree exposure, with 42% of exposures being first-hand. Proband diagnosis was not related to offspring …

View Full Text

Request Permissions


Linked Articles