Suicidal and non-suicidal patients did not differ in treatment-related variables. However, nearly half of those who displayed suicidality dropped out of treatment prematurely. In both groups, it was unlikely that inpatient treatment was recommended. 

Clinical Characteristics of Suicidal/ Non-Suicidal AD Patients 

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

New York University

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.


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. 

The Effects of Preceding Stressors, Distress  Symptoms, and Behavioral Issues on Rates  of Suicidality Among  AD Patients 

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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