Early psychiatric issues may predict suicide in boys

Finnish researchers say that boys who suffer mental health problems may be at increased risk for suicide when they’re teens or young adults.

The study also found that teen and young adult males who either seriously attempted or committed suicide were more likely at age 8 to have lived in a family that did not include two biological parents, to have had psychological problems reported by a teacher, or to have had conduct, hyperactive or emotional problems. None of those factors predicted later suicide risk in females. Depression at age 8 was not associated with increased suicide risk later in life for either sex.

The study appears in the April issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry