A longitudinal study between 1980 and 1988 of school leavers entering adulthood examined suicidal ideation 4 and 8 years after an initial battery of psychological tests. The report of suicidal ideation during their lives was significantly associated with measures of depression, self-esteem and locus of control 8 years previously. It was also associated with those measures as well as anomie, hopelessness and scores on the General Health Questionnaire 4 years previously. These associations were not as strong for subjects whose suicidal ideation had been present in the most recent 6 months, or for those who acknowledged having attempted suicide. No fewer than 40% of subjects who acknowledged suicidal ideation when examined in 1984 denied ever having had suicidal ideation during their lives when re-examined in 1988. This raises doubts about the validity of such studies. Although these findings provide data that confirm the enduring nature of suicidal ideation and its continuing morbidity, they do not give confidence that any screening of schoolchildren could actually predict those who will attempt suicide. Such studies cannot replace full clinical assessment of individual suicidal subjects.
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