Alarming Incidence of Sexual Assault Among Suicidal Female Adolescents

Abstract

Background Suicide, the number two killer of female adolescents in the United States, has been shown to be associated with sexual abuse. What is this incidence? We propose that it is alarmingly higher than currently suspected. The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence of sexual abuse among a homogenous population of adolescent females hospitalized for suicide ideation or attempt. Methods All charts of adolescent females admitted for depression, suicide attempt or ideation from 6/1/93 through 12/31/95 were retrospectively reviewed. Those patients with suicide attempt or ideation necessitating hospitalization were selected for data collection. Information collected included the history of sexual abuse, Axis I diagnosis, prior treatment for sexual abuse or psychological treatment, history of prior physical abuse, family history of depression. acute major life stressor, drug and alcohol abuse, and family structure. Results Fifty (87.7%) of the 57 patients were White or Caucasian and 50 (87.7%) had health insurance. Suicidal ideation was evident in 38 (66.7%) and 50 (87.7%) of the patients admitted to a suicide attempt. Twenty-nine (50.9%) of the patients had a history of sexual abuse and 15 (26.3%) had a history of physical abuse. Nine patients (15.8%) had prior treatment for sexual abuse and 38 (66.7%) had prior treatment for a psychological disorder. Twenty (35.1%) experienced a major life stressor, 23 (40.4%) admitted to drug and alcohol abuse, 36 (63.2%) had a family history of depression and in 27 (47.4%) the family structure was intact Conclusions Previous research on the incidence of sexual abuse among female adolescents has been reported to be as high as 13%. In contrast, this data demonstrated a strong association between suicide and sexual abuse with a 50.9% incidence in an inpatient adolescent female population