The 3-year longitudinal course of suicidality and predictive factors for subsequent suicidality in youths with major depressive disorder.

This study followed the course of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youths 7 to 17 years of age who recently experienced an episode of major depression. Suicidal was expressed by 72% of the youths at some time during the study. These predominantly outpatient youths tended to be suicidal on multiple occasions, but their severity of suicidality did not increase over time. Three variables at presentation predicted later suicidality: severity of initial suicidality, anger, and age. These results suggest that milder forms of suicidality represent a feature of depression rather than characterizing a subgroup of high-risk depressed youths. The results also suggest that suicidality and anger may mark a predominantly irritable form of depression as youths mature.