Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-xxrs7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-19T01:58:52.534Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Suicidal Adolescent Profile: A Comparative Study Between Adolescents with and without Suicidal Behaviours

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

D. Guerreiro
Affiliation:
Psychiatry Department, Hospital Santa Maria, Suicide Study Group, Lisbon, Portugal
E. Neves
Affiliation:
Psychiatry Department, Hospital Santa Maria, Suicide Study Group, Lisbon, Portugal
R. Navarro
Affiliation:
Psychiatry Department, Hospital Santa Maria, Suicide Study Group, Lisbon, Portugal
A. Prioste
Affiliation:
Psychiatry Department, Hospital Santa Maria, Suicide Study Group, Lisbon, Portugal
D. Ribeiro
Affiliation:
Psychiatry Department, Hospital Santa Maria, Suicide Study Group, Lisbon, Portugal
T. Lila
Affiliation:
Psychiatry Department, Hospital Santa Maria, Suicide Study Group, Lisbon, Portugal
A. Neves
Affiliation:
Psychiatry Department, Hospital Santa Maria, Suicide Study Group, Lisbon, Portugal
M. Salgado
Affiliation:
Psychiatry Department, Hospital Santa Maria, Suicide Study Group, Lisbon, Portugal
N. Santos
Affiliation:
Psychiatry Department, Hospital Santa Maria, Suicide Study Group, Lisbon, Portugal
D. Sampaio
Affiliation:
Psychiatry Department, Hospital Santa Maria, Suicide Study Group, Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Context:

Suicide and suicidal behaviours are a growing concern among adolescents.

Objective:

Describe discriminating characteristics of adolescents with suicidal behaviours followed by our psychiatric consultations.

Methods:

A cross-sectional sample of 100 adolescents (aged 12 to 21), from the adolescent psychiatry and youth suicide consultations, at Hospital Santa Maria Psychiatry Department, were submitted to a semi-structured interview. The sample was divided in two groups: with and without suicidal behaviour (the first being defined has previous suicide attempt, parasuicidal gestures or self-mutilation). Demographic, psychosocial and psychopathological data was taken and compared.

Results:

98 completed protocol. Suicidal behaviour group included 48 subjects. Age, years of education, family type, sex differences, psychosocial difficulties (school, family, peers, affective), therapeutic objectives (exception on family relations) were not statistically discriminating. Suicidal ideation as consultation motive, emergency room referral, previous attempts of follow-up, not having as objective improvement of family relationships, were highly associated to the suicidal behaviour group (p≤0.001). A non significant tendency was observed towards depressive syndrome in the latter.

Conclusion:

Identifying adolescents at risk for suicidal behaviours isn't an easy task, most characteristics are not discriminating. The most effective way seems to be asking directly about suicidal ideas. Awareness should increase in emergency room referrals motivated by suicidal ideas, in adolescents who tried multiple follow-ups and that seem to be disappointed by family support.

Type
P02-102
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2009
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.