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Puerto Rican adolescents, as well as other Latinos/as, have been identified at higher risk for suicidal ideation and attempts compared to other ethnic groups. However, research designed to better understand suicidality among Puerto Rican adolescents is rare. Objective: A socio-cognitive vulnerability model of suicidal ideation was tested in adolescents living in Puerto Rico. Method: Multiple group path analyses were performed to assess the effect of self-reported socio-environmental and vulnerability factors on suicidal ideation, by sex, in 233 students from the metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Results: Overall, the model explained a large amount of the variance in suicidal ideation (r2 = .59 for females and r2 = .48 for males). Depressive symptoms had the strongest total effect on suicidal ideation for both sexes (r = .69 for females and r = .53 for males) and negative life events were the most salient socio-environmental factor. Hopelessness had a direct effect on suicidal ideation for males only. Externalizing behaviors had a direct effect on suicidal ideation for both males and females, but it was particularly strong for females. Conclusion: Results support the mediating role of vulnerability factors and the differential importance of socio-environmental and vulnerability factors in understanding suicidal ideation among Puerto Rican adolescents. The relevance of exploring different developmental paths to suicidal ideation, separately by sex, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Puerto Rican adolescents, as well as other Latinos/as, have been identified at higher risk for suicidal ideation and attempts compared to other ethnic groups. However, research designed to better understand suicidality among Puerto Rican adolescents is rare.Objective: A socio-cognitive vulnerability model of suicidal ideation was tested in adolescents living in Puerto Rico.Method: Multiple group path analyses were performed to assess the effect of self-reported socio-environmental and vulnerability factors on suicidal ideation, by sex, in 233 students from the metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico.Results: Overall, the model explained a large amount of the variance in suicidal ideation (r2 = .59 for females and r2 = .48 for males). Depressive symptoms had the strongest total effect on suicidal ideation for both sexes (r = .69 for females and r = .53 for males) and negative life events were the most salient socio-environmental factor. Hopelessness had a direct effect on suicidal ideation for males only. Externalizing behaviors had a direct effect on suicidal ideation for both males and females, but it was particularly strong for females.Conclusion: Results support the mediating role of vulnerability factors and the differential importance of socio-environmental and vulnerability factors in understanding suicidal ideation among Puerto Rican adolescents. The relevance of exploring different developmental paths to suicidal ideation, separately by sex, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an emergency department (ED) sample, we investigated the concordance between identification of suicide-related visits through standardized comprehensive chart review versus a subset of 3 specific chart elements: ICD-9-CM codes, free-text presenting complaints, and free-text physician discharge diagnoses. The method for this study was review of medical records for adults (≥18 years) at 8 EDs across the United States. A total of 3,776 charts were reviewed. A combination of the 3 chart elements (ICD-9-CM, presenting complaints, and discharge diagnoses) provided the most robust data with 85% sensitivity, 96% specificity, 92% PPV, and 92% NPV. These findings highlight the use of key discrete fields in the medical record that can be extracted to facilitate identification of whether an ED visit was suicide-related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]