What distinguishes adolescents with suicidal thoughts from those who have attempted suicide? A population‐based birth cohort study

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Mars, Becky Heron, Jon Klonsky, Elisha David Moran, Paul John O'Connor, Rory C. Tilling, Kate Wilkinson, Paul Oliver Gunnell, D.
Copyright Year	2019
Abstract	BACKGROUND Only one-third of young people who experience suicidal ideation attempt suicide. It is important to identify factors which differentiate those who attempt suicide from those who experience suicidal ideation but do not act on these thoughts. METHODS Participants were 4,772 members of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a UK population-based birth cohort. Suicide ideation and attempts were assessed at age 16 years via self-report questionnaire. Multinomial regression was used to examine associations between factors that differentiated adolescents in three groups: no suicidal ideation or attempts, suicidal ideation only and suicide attempts. Analyses were conducted on an imputed data set based on those with complete outcome data (suicidal thoughts and attempts) at age 16 years (N = 4,772). RESULTS The lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts in the sample was 9.6% and 6.8% respectively. Compared to adolescents who had experienced suicidal ideation, those who attempted suicide were more likely to report exposure to self-harm in others (adjusted OR for family member self-harm: 1.95, for friend self-harm: 2.61 and for both family and friend self-harm: 5.26). They were also more likely to have a psychiatric disorder (adjusted OR for depression: 3.63; adjusted OR for anxiety disorder: 2.20; adjusted OR for behavioural disorder: 2.90). Other risk factors included female gender, lower IQ, higher impulsivity, higher intensity seeking, lower conscientiousness, a greater number of life events, body dissatisfaction, hopelessness, smoking and illicit drug use (excluding cannabis). CONCLUSIONS The extent of exposure to self-harm in others and the presence of psychiatric disorder most clearly differentiate adolescents who attempt suicide from those who only experience suicidal ideation. Further longitudinal research is needed to explore whether these risk factors predict progression from suicidal ideation to attempts over time.
Starting Page	91
Ending Page	99
Page Count	9
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
Alternate Webpage(s)	http://www2.psych.ubc.ca/~klonsky/publications/Mars.pdf
PubMed reference number	29492978v1
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12878
DOI	10.1111/jcpp.12878
Journal	Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines
Volume Number	60
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Adolescent (age group) Anxiety Disorders Attempt Behavior Disorders Birth Injuries Cannabis Contraceptive methods Depressive disorder Dissatisfaction Feeling hopeless Females Impulsive Behavior Mental association Mental disorders Self injury Statistical Imputation Thinking, function
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article