Is attempted suicide different in adolescent and adults?

Author: Parellada M / Saiz P / Moreno D / et al
Publication: Psychiatry Research
Topics: Age Group Suicide
Keywords: Adolescent Adult Over-the-counter medication Psychiatric care Suicide Attempt
Bibliographic information +

173 adults and 104 adolescents admitted to an inpatient unit for a suicide attempt were included in a national register with data on methods, circumstances, psychiatric diagnoses, and intentionality. Most attempts among both adults and adolescents were made with medications, a low-lethality method. Only 6 of the 261 patients used hanging or submersion and 1 used a firearm. After taking into considerations gender and diagnosis, adolescents were more likely than adults to use over-the-counter medications. Adults were significantly more certain of a possible fatal outcome of their attempt and scored higher on the suicide intent scale.