A dimensional model of psychopathology among homeless adolescents: suicidality, internalizing, and externalizing disorders

J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2008 Jan;36(1):95-104. doi: 10.1007/s10802-007-9163-y. Epub 2007 Jul 25.

Abstract

The present study examined associations among dimensions of suicidality and psychopathology in a sample of 428 homeless adolescents (56.3% female). Confirmatory factor analysis results provided support for a three-factor model in which suicidality (measured with lifetime suicidal ideation and suicide attempts), internalizing disorders (assessed with lifetime diagnoses of major depressive episode and post-traumatic stress disorder), and externalizing disorders (indicated by lifetime diagnoses of conduct disorder, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse) were positively intercorrelated. The findings illustrate the utility of a dimensional approach that integrates suicidality and psychopathology into one model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Alcoholism / diagnosis
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Alcoholism / psychology*
  • Conduct Disorder / diagnosis
  • Conduct Disorder / epidemiology
  • Conduct Disorder / psychology*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology*
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Homeless Youth / psychology*
  • Homeless Youth / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Midwestern United States
  • Models, Statistical
  • Psychopathology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology*
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology*
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data