Alcohol use and psychiatric comorbid disorders predict deliberate self-harm behaviour and other suicidality among depressed adolescent outpatients in 1-year follow-up.

Background: Suicidality, including deliberate self-harm behaviour (DSH), represents one of the most adverse and clinically serious consequences of depression. More detailed longitudinal research is needed in order to find clinical risk factors of DSH and other suicidal behaviour among depressed adolescent outpatients in order to identify those at greatest risk of life-threatening behaviour. Aim: This follow-up study investigated alcohol use, Axis I comorbid disorders, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and psychosocial functioning as risk factors of suicidal behaviour, including DSH, among depressed adolescent outpatients during a 1-year follow-up. Methods: Consecutive depressed adolescent outpatients (n = 189) aged 13–19 years were interviewed at baseline and at follow-up by using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children—Present and Lifetime (K-SADS-PL) for DSM-IV Axis I diagnoses and self-report questionnaires. Suicidal behaviour was assessed by K-SADS suicidality it...