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Psychotic experiences and psychological distress predict contemporaneous and future non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempts in a sample of Australian school-based adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 July 2014

G. Martin ,
H. Thomas ,
T. Andrews ,
P. Hasking  and
J. G. Scott
G. Martin
Affiliation:
Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia
H. Thomas
Affiliation:
Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
T. Andrews
Affiliation:
Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
P. Hasking
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
J. G. Scott*
Affiliation:
The University of Queensland, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia Metro North Mental Health, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr J. G. Scott, The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, 4029, Australia. (Email: james.scott@health.qld.gov.au)
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Abstract

Background

Recent cross-sectional studies have shown psychotic experiences (PEs) are associated with suicidal ideation and behaviours. We aimed to examine associations between psychotic experiences (including persistent PE), and contemporaneous and incident non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts.

Method

Participants were from an Australian longitudinal cohort of 1896 adolescents (12–17 years). NSSI and suicide attempts were measured using the Self-Harm Behaviour Questionnaire. Items from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children were used to assess psychotic experiences, and the General Health Questionnaire-12 measured psychological distress.

Results

Adolescents both psychologically distressed and endorsing psychotic experiences had increased odds of contemporaneous and incident NSSI and attempted suicide. Psychotic experiences alone did not predict future risk. Persistent psychotic experiences were associated with increased risk of NSSI and suicide attempts.

Conclusions

Psychological distress with accompanying psychotic experiences and persistent psychotic experiences are important predictors of NSSI and suicide attempts. Screening these phenotypes in adolescents will assist in discerning those adolescents most at risk, providing opportunities for targeted suicide prevention strategies.

Keywords

Adolescentspersistencepsychological distresspsychosispsychotic experiencesself-injurysuicide
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 45 , Issue 2 , January 2015 , pp. 429 - 437
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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