Related Experiment Videos
[Suicidal adolescents--what should clinicians look for?]
Sara Rise Langlo1, Maria Ramberg, Berit Grøholt
1Det medisinske fakultet, Universitetet i Oslo.
Summary
Adolescents seeking medical care before a suicide attempt often present with physical issues, not suicidal thoughts. General practitioners need better risk factor awareness to identify at-risk youth.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Psychiatry
- General Practice
Background:
- Suicidal behavior is increasing in adolescents.
- Understanding characteristics of adolescents seeking primary care before suicide attempts is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the characteristics of adolescents who consult a general practitioner (GP) before a suicide attempt.
Main Methods:
- Interviewed 92 adolescents (under 20) hospitalized after suicide attempts.
- Compared these adolescents to a non-suicidal control group.
Main Results:
- 41/92 saw a doctor within six weeks prior to the attempt, mostly for physical issues.
- Suicidal adolescents consulting GPs were older, had more eating disorders, and reported more risk factors (e.g., divorced parents, substance use, low self-esteem, depression) than controls.
- Only 2 discussed suicidal thoughts with their doctors.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents who attempt suicide and see a GP differ significantly from non-suicidal peers.
- GPs require enhanced knowledge of risk factors to identify suicidal adolescents.
- Proactive inquiry into psychosocial issues, psychopathology, and suicidal ideation is essential.