Re: Childhood sexual and physical abuse predict ...

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003 Nov;42(11):1301-9.

Sexual abuse and suicidal behavior: a model constructed from a large
community sample of adolescents.

Bergen HA, Martin G, Richardson AS, Allison S, Roeger L.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland Mental Health
Center, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate relationships between self-reported sexual
abuse, depression, hopelessness, and suicidality in a community sample
of adolescents. METHOD: In 1995, students (mean age 13 years) from 27
high schools in Australia (n = 2,603) completed a questionnaire
including measures of depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic
Studies Depression Scale), hopelessness, sexual abuse, and suicidality.
Data analysis included logistic regression. RESULTS: Sexual abuse is
associated with suicidality, both directly and indirectly through
hopelessness and depressive symptoms in the model developed. High
suicide risk (behavior exceeding thoughts such as plans and threats, or
deliberate self-injury) is strongly correlated with suicide attempts
(odds ratio 28.8, 95% CI 16-52, p <.001). Hopelessness is associated
with high suicide risk only, whereas depressive symptoms are associated
with high suicide risk and attempts. Hopelessness is more strongly
associated with sexual abuse in boys than girls. Depressive symptoms
are more strongly associated with high suicide risk in girls than boys.
Controlling for other variables, sexual abuse is independently
associated with suicide attempts in girls but not boys. CONCLUSIONS:
Clinical assessment should consider gender differences in relationships
between sexual abuse, depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and
suicidality. Sexually abused girls may be at increased risk of
attempting suicide, independent of other psychopathology.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14566167&query_hl=1

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