In a group of adolescent AD patients, 9% had attempted suicide, all of which were girls. None of them had run-ins with the law or other psychiatric disorders. However, 37.5% displayed alcohol misuse, 87.5% aggressive behaviour, 12.5 % learning difficulties, and 87.5 % anxiety symptoms.

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There is a clear link between Adjustment Disorders and Suicidality in both adult and adolescent populations. It has been found that 21% of adolescents who had committed suicide may have had an Adjustment Disorders diagnosis and 9% of adolescents diagnosed with an Adjustment Disorder display suicidal tendencies.

Rates of Suicidal Tendencies Among Patients with AD

Pelkonen, M., Marttunen, M., Henriksson, M., & Lönnqvist, J. (2005). Suicidality in adjustment disorder: Clinical characteristics of adolescent outpatients. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 14(3), 174–180. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-005-0457-8 

Suicidality in adjustment disorder: Clinical characteristics of adolescent outpatients.


One's psychosocial background, including age, has little effect on whether or not a patient with AD develops suicidal symptoms.

The Effects of Psychosocial background of an AD patient on Rates of Suicidality

Suicidal AD patients were more likely to have the suicide of a significant other as their stressor, as well as dysphoric mood, and psychomotor restlessness, prior to their AD diagnosis. Suicidal AD patients also had more substance misuse, aggressive behavior, and anxiety symptoms than non-suicidal AD patients but not enough to reach statistical significance. 

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