Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Suicide: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) present unique challenges in understanding suicide risk.
• General risk factors for self-harm and suicide may not fully apply to pediatric populations with NDD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize literature connecting suicide and affective disorders in children and adolescents with NDD.
• To identify specific individual and environmental risk factors for suicidality in NDD.
• To propose a theoretical model for suicide risk in NDD.

Main Methods:

• Narrative literature analysis.
• Review of studies focusing on neurodevelopmental disorders and suicidality.
• Examination of emotion dysregulation and adverse childhood experiences as risk factors.

Main Results:

• Emotion dysregulation (ED) and adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are significant risk factors for suicidality in individuals with NDD.
• A theoretical model is proposed where ED and ACE directly or indirectly influence self-harm and suicide, potentially mediated by depressive disorders.
• Specific risk factors may be associated with distinct NDDs.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the interplay of ED and ACE is crucial for identifying suicide risk in NDD.
• Early identification of suicide risk in NDD can be improved through a deeper understanding of these contributing factors.
• This review highlights key insights for clinical practice and future research in pediatric NDD suicidality.