Parental bonding style and suicidality

Children are affected most by the style of the parent who has the greatest involvement in raising them. Higher levels of overprotection during childhood associate with higher levels of pathology in adolescence and adulthood, particularly in parents who also are less caring. We clinicians should use these findings to guide our adult patients toward an optimal parenting style, and to recognize and intervene when we see signs of low care, overprotection, or both – particularly in families with a history of affective disorders.

Recognizing affectionless control as a risk factor for suicide might help us identify at-risk patients, so that we might better focus our treatment plans and/or intervene before the suicidal behavior occurs.

Dr. Galynker is founder and director of the Family Center for Bipolar, New York. He also is associate chairman of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, and is director of the division of biological psychiatry at the medical center. Ms. Briggs serves as program assistant at the Family Center for Bipolar.