Risk for suicide attempt in the offspring of parents with suicide attempt

In this study we used data from Danish nationwide registers to investigate risk of suicide attempts in individuals whose parents had attempted suicide. Results show that parental suicide attempt is associated with a 3-fold risk increase of suicide attempt in the offspring.

Risk is highest if the parent attempted suicide during early childhood. Risks were slightly higher for children of mothers who died by suicide as opposed to children of fathers who died by suicide. Suicide attempt in a stepparent was associated with a 1,7 fold risk of suicide attempt in the stepchild. Analyses were adjusted for socioeconomic confounders.