Related Experiment Videos
Risk factors for attempted suicide during adolescence
G B Slap1, D F Vorters, S Chaudhuri
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.
Pediatrics
|November 1, 1989
Summary
Adolescents can identify their suicide risk. A simple screening tool using self-administered questionnaires may help identify suicidal adolescents, improving early intervention and mental health care.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent psychiatry
- Suicidology
- Public health
Background:
- Identifying suicide risk in adolescents is challenging.
- Adolescents' ability to self-report risk factors is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if adolescents can provide data for a suicide risk screening model.
- To develop a simple model to differentiate suicidal from nonsuicidal adolescents.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 304 adolescents (13-19 years) hospitalized for suicide attempts or acute illnesses.
- Self-administered questionnaires assessed psychosocial function, stress, substance use, and healthcare utilization.
- Logistic regression analysis identified key predictors of suicide attempts.
Main Results:
- Suicidal adolescents reported poorer mental health, impulse control, family relationships, and school performance.
- They had higher stress and alcohol use scores, and increased use of specific drugs.
- Previous suicide attempts, prior mental health care, poor school performance, marijuana use, and emergency room dependence were significant predictors.
Conclusions:
- Self-administered questionnaires can effectively differentiate suicidal from nonsuicidal adolescents.
- A five-question model demonstrated high accuracy in identifying suicide risk.
- Prospective validation could establish this as a valuable rapid screening tool for suicidal adolescents.