Cited by 166Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesPersonality Disorders and PsychopathologyChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Impulsivity and suicidality in adolescent inpatients

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Auerbach, Randy P., Stewart, Jeremy G., Johnson, Sheri L.·2017·Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology

Abstract

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents, and impulsivity has emerged as a promising marker of risk. The present study tested whether distinct domains of impulsivity are differentially associated with suicide ideation, plans, and attempts. Adolescents (n = 381; boys = 106, girls = 275) aged 13-19 years (M = 15.62, SD = 1.41) were recruited from an acute, residential treatment program. Within 48 h of admission to the hospital, participants were administered structured clinical interviews assessing mental health disorders and suicidality. Following these interviews, participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing symptom severity and impulsivity. Consistent with past research, an exploratory factor analysis of our 90-item impulsivity instrument resulted in a three-factor solution: Pervasive Influence of Feelings, Feelings Trigger Action, and Lack of Follow-Through. Concurrent analysis of these factors confirmed hypotheses of unique associations with suicide ideation and attempts in the past month. Specifically, whereas Pervasive Influence of Feelings (i.e., tendency for emotions to shape thoughts about the self and the future) is uniquely associated with greater suicidal ideation, Feelings Trigger Action (i.e., impulsive behavioral reactivity to emotions) is uniquely associated with the occurrence of suicide attempts, even after controlling for current psychiatric diagnoses and symptoms. Exploratory gender analyses revealed that these effects were significant in female but not male adolescents. These findings provide new insight about how specific domains of impulsivity differentially increase risk for suicide ideation and attempts. Implications for early identification and prevention of youth suicide are discussed.

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Authors
Auerbach, R. P., Stewart, J. G., & Johnson, S. L.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
Corresponding author
Auerbach, Randy P.
Venue
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
Published
2016-03-30
Volume
45
Issue
1
Pages
91-103
ISSN
  • 0091-0627 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2835
OpenAlex
W2318692454
Cited by
166
References
68
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 2
FWCI
13.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (K23MH097786)
  • Tommy Fuss Fund
  • Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation (Adolescent Depression Fellowship)
  • Simches Fund
  • Skip Pope Award for Young Investigators (McLean Hospital)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
impulsivity, suicidality, adolescents, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, suicide planning, residential treatment, gender differences, suicide risk factors, suicide prevention
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Adult, Female, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Inpatients, Male, Suicide, Attempted, Young Adult, Suicidal Ideation

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