For Release: June 2, 1997
5 p.m. (ET)
Below is a highlight of a study published in the June issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Members of the media may obtain the full text of this study by e-mailing the AAP Division of Public Relations at847-981-7877 and ask for C791-97.
STUDY FINDS LINK BETWEEN RISK BEHAVIORS AND TEEN SUICIDE ATTEMPTS
CHICAGO--Certain behaviors that can seem like typical teenage "acting out" may actually indicate that a teen has attempted suicide, according to a new study published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The studys authors, from Harvard Medical School, Boston, reviewed data from the 1993 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which involved more than 3,000 high school students. Most previous studies group suicide with depression and other psychiatric indicators and dont consider adolescent risk behaviors. Those risk behaviors include not wearing a seat belt, smoking cigarettes or using smokeless tobacco, abusing drugs or alcohol, getting into physical fights and carrying a gun, and having unprotected sex after substance use. The authors say that a teen who does all that also is likely to have tried suicide. Using this model, the authors correctly classified more than 92 percent of the teens as to whether or not they had made suicide attempts. The authors undertook this study because of the dramatic increase in suicide rates amongst 15- to 24-year olds. Those rates increased from 4.5 per 100,000 in 1950 to 13.2 per 100,000 in 1990. The authors hope that by looking at risk behaviors, physicians can identify teens at risk for suicide attempts and begin prevention strategies before its too late.
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EDITORS NOTE: This study was published in the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, but does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the Academy. The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 53,000 pediatricians primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
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