Suicidal behavior and related traits among inpatient adolescents with first-episode schizophrenia

Abstract Purpose Suicide is a major cause of death in adolescents with first-episode schizophrenia (FES). The aim of this pilot study was to compare suicide-related traits between subjects with FES and those with other psychopathologies to evaluate risk factors for suicidal behavior. Method Twenty-f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Comprehensive psychiatry 2011-11, Vol.52 (6), p.596-599
Main Authors: Shoval, Gal, Feld-Olspanger, Joy, Nahshoni, Eitan, Gothelf, Doron, Misgav, Sagit, Manor, Iris, Apter, Alan, Zalsman, Gil
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Anger
Biological and medical sciences
Case-Control Studies
Crime - psychology
Depression - psychology
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Mental depression
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychiatry
Psychological Tests
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Psychoses
Risk Factors
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenic Psychology
Self destructive behavior
Suicidal behavior
Suicidal Ideation
Suicide
Suicides & suicide attempts
Teenagers
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Summary:Abstract Purpose Suicide is a major cause of death in adolescents with first-episode schizophrenia (FES). The aim of this pilot study was to compare suicide-related traits between subjects with FES and those with other psychopathologies to evaluate risk factors for suicidal behavior. Method Twenty-five inpatient adolescents with FES and a control group of 28 psychiatric inpatients matched for sex and age were assessed for depression, anger, criminal behavior, aggression, and suicidal ideation, risk, and potential. Results The adolescents with FES had significantly lower depression ( P = .003), anger ( P = .025), and criminal behavior ( P = .022) than did the controls. However, although suicide ideation was greater in the subjects with FES ( P = .003), suicide risk was significantly lower than that in controls ( P = .004). Conclusion Decreased levels of both depression and anger as part of affective constriction in the group with schizophrenia could explain why the increased suicide ideation did not lead to a higher suicide risk in these inpatients. This study highlights the importance of distinguishing between suicidal ideation and actual suicide risk. We demonstrated that thoughts of suicide do not necessarily translate into an actual risk of suicidal behavior in adolescents with schizophrenia.
ISSN:0010-440X
1532-8384
DOI:10.1016/j.comppsych.2011.01.005