Prognosis and Psychosocial Outcomes of Attempted Suicide by Early Adolescence

Abstract

Adulthood psychiatric and psychosocial outcomes of early adolescence suicidal acts were studied. A representative sample of school adolescents (T1, mean age, 13.7 years; n = 2464; 50.8% female; 88.3% participation) was followed up a year later with the same questionnaire (T2). High scorers of depression were matched with low or moderate scorers and interviewed using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime version (mean age, 14.9 years; n = 345; 94% participation). They were reassessed after 5 years (T3, mean age, 20.0 years; n = 242; 73% participation). Those who attempted suicide before the age of 14 years and repeated suicidal acts between ages 14 and 15 years had worser prognostic profiles than incident cases between ages 14 and 15 years. Male attempters had better psychiatric prognosis than female attempters. Attempters were more likely to have contacted child protection services but not mental health services. Clinicians need to be aware of long-term pervasive outcomes of adolescent suicidality.

Adolescent self-harm and suicidal behavior and young adult outcomes in indigenous and non-indigenous people

“…Our findings are supported by previous studies that have shown comparable high self-reports of ASSB [6,10,27], compared to lower proportions reported from interview settings [23,24]. Our overall finding that ASSB was associated with increased rates of mental health disorders and unfavorable social outcomes in young adulthood was comparable to previous longitudinal studies on adolescent suicidal behavior [23][24][25][26][27][28][29].…”

“…Longitudinal studies have shown associations between adolescent suicidal behavior and later suicidal behavior and mental health problems in young adulthood [23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. However, few studies have looked at different categories of suicidal behavior [23,24] or self-harm.…”

“…Still, all these phenomena are part of the dimensional spectrum of self-harm and suicidal behavior [1,15]. Most of the previous studies on adolescents have focused on either suicidal ideation [25,28] or suicide attempts [26,27,29]. Some of these studies have examined later adult functioning and social outcomes, showing associations with psychosocial functioning, financial difficulties, and need of social support [23,[25][26][27]29].…”

“…Most of the previous studies on adolescents have focused on either suicidal ideation [25,28] or suicide attempts [26,27,29]. Some of these studies have examined later adult functioning and social outcomes, showing associations with psychosocial functioning, financial difficulties, and need of social support [23,[25][26][27]29]. Most of these outcomes were primarily assessed by selfreported risk scales [23,[25][26][27]29], and only two studies have examined suicidal ideation and attempts in adolescence [23,24].…”

“…Some of these studies have examined later adult functioning and social outcomes, showing associations with psychosocial functioning, financial difficulties, and need of social support [23,[25][26][27]29]. Most of these outcomes were primarily assessed by selfreported risk scales [23,[25][26][27]29], and only two studies have examined suicidal ideation and attempts in adolescence [23,24]. Considering the lack of studies examining the adult outcomes of different levels of suicidal behavior in adolescence, we wanted to examine the risk of later mental health and social problems in four different categories of self-harm and suicidal behavior in adolescence, from self-harm without suicidal intent to suicidal attempts.…”