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Young suicide attempters: a comparison between a clinical and an epidemiological sample
B Grøholt1, O Ekeberg, L Wichstrøm
1Department Group of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, Norway. groholt@online.no
Summary
Hospitalized adolescents face more potent risk factors for suicide attempts, including depression and disruptive disorders. Prevention strategies should address depression, low self-esteem, and family communication for all adolescents.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Adolescent Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Suicide attempts among adolescents are a significant public health concern.
- Understanding distinct risk factors for hospitalized versus community-based adolescent suicide attempters is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare risk factors for self-harm between hospitalized adolescents with suicide attempts and adolescents reporting suicide attempts in a community survey.
- To identify specific risk factors differentiating these two groups.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving hospitalized adolescents (n=91) and a general population sample (n=1,736) in Norway.
- Logistic regression models were used to analyze risk factors for suicide attempts and self-harm.
Main Results:
- Hospitalized adolescents showed stronger associations with depression (OR=4.7), disruptive disorders (OR=9.4), low self-worth, parental alcohol use, and low socioeconomic status.
- Depression (OR=3.1) and loneliness were significant risk factors for self-reported self-harm in the community sample.
- Hospitalized suicidal adolescents were characterized by low self-worth, low socioeconomic status, and limited parental/peer support.
Conclusions:
- Risk factors for suicide attempts are more pronounced in hospitalized adolescents.
- Prevention efforts should target depression, low self-esteem, and family communication.
- Interventions need to be tailored: population-level for community samples and individual-level for hospitalized adolescents.