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Diagnostic outcome of adolescent self-reported suicidal ideation at 8-year follow-up
Dirk Dhossche1, Robert Ferdinand, Jan van der Ende
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Sophia's Children Hospital/Erasmus University Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. dr6340451@pol.net
Background:
There are few epidemiological data on the outcome of adolescent self-reported suicidal ideation.
Method:
Data from an epidemiological study were used to examine self-reported suicidal ideation in adolescence as a predictor of suicidal ideation and psychiatric diagnoses at 8-year follow-up.
Results:
Suicidal ideation was reported by 41 (4.5%) of 912 adolescents aged 11-18 and by 19 (2.5%) of 795 young adults aged 19-26. Most parents of adolescents with positive self-report did not report suicidal ideation in their child. Suicidal ideation in adolescents and young adults was associated with other psychiatric problems. Adolescent self-reported suicidal ideation was not a predictor of suicidal ideation or any major psychiatric disorder 8 years later. In males, suicidal ideation in adolescence was associated with specific phobia at follow-up.
Limitations:
The sample of adolescents may not be representative of the general population. There were no outcome measures other than DSM-IV diagnoses. Suicidal ideation was assessed by only one item, both at baseline and follow-up.
Conclusions:
Adolescents and young adults with self-reported suicidal ideation had high rates of psychiatric problems. Adolescent self-reported suicidal ideation did not predict suicidal ideation or any major psychiatric disorders (i.e. depressive disorders, substance use disorders, or psychotic disorders) at follow-up.