were interested in psychopathologic risk factors such as affective, disruptive, substance abuse, psychotic, and personality disorders. Findings showed that as familial risk factors and stress levels increased, youth were more likely to commit suicide; the presence of psychopathology added to this risk.
In a study of risk factors for youth suicide among clinical samples, Morano, Cisler and Lemerond (1993) assessed several measures of suicide behavior, suicide ideation, social support, and hopelessness in newly admitted patients to a psychiatric facility. The sample consisted of 20 adolescent serious suicide attempters and 20 nonattempters matched on depression scores. Findings revealed that attempters and nonattempters were similar in psychiatric status, gender, age, race, and socioeconomic status. Data analysis also showed that loss and low family support were the best predictors of an adolescent's suicide attempt.
Also, suicide attempters reported more hopelessness than did nonattempters. It was noted that teens were especially vulnerable if
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