Parent's history of suicide attempts increase risk in kids 5-fold

A new study has revealed suicide attempt by a parent increases the odds nearly 5-fold that a child would attempt suicide.

The researchers found a direct effect of a parent's suicide attempt on a suicide attempt by their child, even after researchers took into account a history of previous suicide attempt by the offspring and a familial transmission of mood disorder.

David A. Brent, M.D., of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, said that Impulsive aggression was an important precursor of mood disorder and could be targeted in interventions designed to prevent youth at high familial risk from making a suicide attempt.