Handbook of social psychology

Abstract

We tested artifactual and theory-based accounts of the relationship between schizophrenia liability and suicidality. At baseline, 387 adolescents (12 to 17 years) completed measures of schizotypy, hopelessness, and depressed affect. After two years, schizotypal and non-schizotypal subsamples (n = 16 and 31, respectively) self-reported passive suicidal ideation, active ideation, and serious ideation and action. Taxonic schizotypy predicted passive ideation (OR = 8.15, 95% CI 1.34, 49.60) even when controlling for depressed affect. Hopelessness did not predict suicidality or moderate schizotypy–suicidality relationships. Findings were consistent with the interpersonal theory of suicide and contrary to the artifactual account of the association.