Adolescents who attempt suicide: A retrospective clinical chart review of hospitalized patients.

In a review of pediatric hospital admissions over 4 years, we identified 173 adolescents who had attempted suicide. Of these individuals, 104 (60.1%) were female and 69 (39.9%) were male. The age range was 10–20 years, with approximately 60% of the population being 17–20 years old. The three characteristics most often exhibited by an adolescent in the year prior to the attempt were alcohol use, drug use, and rebellion toward authority. Only 10% of the attempters were reported to have come from a harmonious family. Depression, impulsivity, and anger were the most predominant personality characteristics reported. The suicide attempts were usually precipitated by conflicts with a significant person, either a parent or a boy- or girlfriend, and were accomplished by drug overdose. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)