Aggressiveness Across Development and Suicidal Behavior in Depressed Patients

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine differences in the pathway of aggressiveness across development between depressive subjects and normal controls, and to examine males and females separately with regard to level of aggression and suicidal behavior among depressed subjects. Participants were classified into 5 groups: depressed suicide attempters (DSA; n = 339), depressed non-suicide attempters (DNSA; n = 92), psychiatric controls who had attempted suicide (PSA; n = 188), psychiatric controls who had not attempted suicide (PNSA; n = 222), and normal controls (NC; n = 532). The level of aggressiveness across development in the different groups was examined using a 5 (DSA vs. DNSA vs. PSA vs. PNSA vs. NC)×3 (Childhood, Adolescence, and Adulthood) MANCOVA. Adjusted and separate models for males and females were conducted. Depressed subjects differed in severity of aggressiveness. The level of aggressiveness in individuals in the NC group remained stable across development, while subjects in the DSA and DNSA groups showed significantly higher levels of aggressiveness. This finding was also observed in subjects of the PSA and PNSA groups. The level of aggressiveness in males with depression significantly increased over time. In women, increasing levels of aggressiveness across development were only observed in depressed suicide attempters. Limitations of this study included use of semi-structured interview for the assessment of risk factors. We found significant differences in severity and in the pathway of aggressiveness across development between depressive subjects and normal controls. In addition, sex differences regarding level of aggression and suicidal behavior among depressed subjects were found.

Keywords:

• adolescence
• adulthood
• aggression
• childhood
• depression

Notes

Note. Abbreviations: DSA: Depressed attempters; DNSA: Depressed non-attempters; PSA: Psychiatriccontrols-attempters; PNSA: Psychiatric controls non-attempters; NC: Normal controls.

Note. Abbreviations: DSA: Depressed attempters; DNSA: Depressed non-attempters; PSA: Psychiatriccontrols-attempters; PNSA: Psychiatric controls non-attempters; NC: Normal controls.

Note. Abbreviations: DSA: Depressed attempters; DNSA: Depressed non-attempters; PSA: Psychiatriccontrols-attempters; PNSA: Psychiatric controls non-attempters; NC: Normal controls.

Note. Abbreviations: DSA: Depressed attempters; DNSA: Depressed non-attempters; PSA: Psychiatriccontrols-attempters; PNSA: Psychiatric controls non-attempters; NC: Normal controls.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Juan J. Carballo

Juan J. Carballo, Department of Psychiatry, Jimenez Diaz Foundation. Madrid, Spain.

Rebeca García-Nieto

Rebeca García-Nieto, Department of Psychiatry, Jimenez Diaz Foundation. Madrid, Spain.

Jill Harkavy-Friedman

Jill Harkavy-Friedman, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA.

Victoria de Leon-Martinez

Victoria de Leon-Martinez, Department of Psychiatry, Jimenez Diaz Foundation, Madrid, Spain.

Enrique Baca-García

Enrique Baca-García, Department of Psychiatry, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Madrid, Spain, and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA.