Today, the general interpretation of the etiology of various psychopathological symptoms in adolescence does not talk about causes, but the risk factors.

We tried to determine whether traumatic experiences among adolescents represent a risk factor for suicide.

The study was conducted at the University Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Osijek in 2006. and 2007. years.

In the study period we included 100 patients, the experimental group consisted of 50 patients who were admitted to the department for attempted suicide in the order of admission to hospital treatment, the control group consisted of 50 patients admitted to the department for other psychiatric disorders, also in the order of admission to treatment / diagnosed according to DSM IV/.

Age range of 13–18 years. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups of subjects according to age (χ2 = 5289, df = 5, p = .382) and according to sex (χ2 = .694, df = 1, p = .405). In the suicidal group 38 patients (76%) reported traumatic experiences /most in family context/ while in nonsuicidal group 27 patients (54%) what is statistical difference (χ2 = 5319, df = 1, p = .021).

In daily psychiatric work we must focus on adolescents who have experienced traumatic experiences and is therefore extremely important in anamnesis always ask for the lived traumatic experience. Family practitioners, specialists in educational institutions, parents and adolescents themselves have a role in early recognition of these risk factors.