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Published on: April 1, 2018
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and suicide: a review of possible associations
1Highfield Adolescent Unit, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK. anthony.james@psych.ox.ac.uk
Objective:
To review the evidence of a possible association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and suicide.
Design:
We searched the electronic data bases: Medline, Psych LIT, between 1966 and March 2003 looking for articles on ADHD, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity and suicide.
Results:
An association of ADHD and completed suicide was found, especially for younger males. However, the evidence for any direct or independent link was modest with an overall suicide rate from long-term follow-up studies of ADHD of 0.63-0.78%. The estimated relative risk ratio, compared with US national suicide rates (males 5-24 years) is 2.91 (95% confidence interval 1.47-5.7, chi2 = 9.3, d.f. = 1, P = 0.002). ADHD appears to increase the risk of suicide in males via increasing severity of comorbid conditions, particularly conduct disorder (CD) and depression.
Conclusion:
Identification of those at risk, particularly males with comorbid ADHD, depression and CD, may represent a useful clinical means of reducing completed suicide.
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