Temperament of depressive adolescents and mothers who were referred to hospital with or without suicide attempt

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, in adolescents with major depressive disorder, we aimed to investigate temperamental differences between adolescents who were referred with or without suicide attempt. In addition, we explored affective temperament differences in mothers of children and adolescents with or without suicide attempt. Methods: The 9-18 year-old children and adolescents (n=114) with major depressive disorder and their mothers who accepted to participate were assigned to the study. To explore temperamental features, the 16-18 year-old adolescents and mothers completed the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). Adolescents and mothers were assessed to several cilinical features. Results: The adolescents' -with (n=29) or without (n=17) suicide attempt-depressive, cyclothmic, hyperthmic, and irritable temperament scores were similar. Compared to the non-suicidal adolescents with major depressive disorder, suicidal adolescents with major depressive disorder exhibited higher anxious (p=0.04) temperament scores. Mothers of suicidal children have irritable temperament (p=0.002), and mothers of non-suicidal children have hyperthymic termperament more (p=0.02). Conclusion: These findings suggest that several affective temperament dimensions in the adolescents have a clinical impact on the appearence of suicide attempt. In addition, maternal temperament is also associated with suicide attempt in depressive children and adolescents. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2010; 10:9-17)