Citation

Ferm MS, Frazee LA, Kennard BD, King JD, Emslie GJ, Stewart SM. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/sltb.12715

PMID

33103267

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Several theories of suicide suggest that people will only attempt suicide if they have both the desire to die and the capability for suicide. Fearlessness about death is a key component of capability for suicide. There is little information in the literature about the prospective relationship between fearlessness about death and suicide attempt in adolescents.

METHOD: We obtained baseline fearlessness about death from adolescents (N = 122; ages 12-18; 80% girls; 82% Caucasian) who received intensive outpatient treatment for active suicidal ideation and/or a recent attempt. We tested if fearlessness about death at treatment entry predicted an attempt (n = 14) between entry and six-month follow-up after discharge from the program.

RESULTS: Fearlessness about death significantly predicted the presence of an attempt between treatment entry and six-month follow-up after controlling for common covariates (Quade F = 2.15, p < .02).

CONCLUSIONS: In a preliminary analysis of a group of suicidal adolescents, fearlessness about death was a significant independent predictor of attempt between treatment entry and six months post-discharge, even when controlling for other commonly cited risk factors.

Language: en