Self-mutilation and suicidal behaviour in children and adolescents: prevalence and psychosocial correlates: results of the BELLA study.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Self-mutilation and suicidal behaviour in children and adolescents: prevalence and psychosocial correlates: results of the BELLA study.

AU - Resch, Franz

AU - Parzer, Peter

AU - Brunner, Romuald

AU - BELLA Study Group

AU - Barkmann, Claus

PY - 2008/12/1

Y1 - 2008/12/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of suicidal behaviour in a representative sample of children and adolescents in Germany. METHODS: Suicidal behaviour was assessed in the BELLA study in a sample of 2,863 families with children aged 7-17 using the corresponding questions from the child behavior check list and the youth self report. Self-reported as well as parent-reported measures of overall mental health problems, anxiety, depression, aggressive and delinquent behaviour, attention deficit-/hyperactivity as well as health-related quality of life were also administered. RESULTS: Self-mutilation and/or suicidal attempts within the last six months were reported by 2.9% of the adolescents 11-17 years of age. Suicidal thoughts were reported by 3.8% of the same group of adolescents. The prevalence rates reported by the parents were 1.4% for self-mutilation and/or suicidal attempts and 2.2% for suicidal thoughts. The prevalence of parent-reported self-mutilation/suicidal attempts in children below 11 years of age was very low. Youth reporting suicidal behaviour were older than youth not reporting suicidal behaviour. Children and adolescents exhibiting suicidal behaviour reported significantly more general mental health problems, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and hyperactivity as well as lower health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong connection between suicidal behaviour and emotional and behavioural problems, especially with symptoms of depression, anxiety and hyperactivity. The association observed between attention deficit-/hyperactivity and suicidal behaviour requires further investigation. The differences in the extent of reported suicidal behaviour in adolescents between the self- and parent-ratings and the degree of confidentiality in the collection of the data are subjects for future research.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of suicidal behaviour in a representative sample of children and adolescents in Germany. METHODS: Suicidal behaviour was assessed in the BELLA study in a sample of 2,863 families with children aged 7-17 using the corresponding questions from the child behavior check list and the youth self report. Self-reported as well as parent-reported measures of overall mental health problems, anxiety, depression, aggressive and delinquent behaviour, attention deficit-/hyperactivity as well as health-related quality of life were also administered. RESULTS: Self-mutilation and/or suicidal attempts within the last six months were reported by 2.9% of the adolescents 11-17 years of age. Suicidal thoughts were reported by 3.8% of the same group of adolescents. The prevalence rates reported by the parents were 1.4% for self-mutilation and/or suicidal attempts and 2.2% for suicidal thoughts. The prevalence of parent-reported self-mutilation/suicidal attempts in children below 11 years of age was very low. Youth reporting suicidal behaviour were older than youth not reporting suicidal behaviour. Children and adolescents exhibiting suicidal behaviour reported significantly more general mental health problems, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and hyperactivity as well as lower health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong connection between suicidal behaviour and emotional and behavioural problems, especially with symptoms of depression, anxiety and hyperactivity. The association observed between attention deficit-/hyperactivity and suicidal behaviour requires further investigation. The differences in the extent of reported suicidal behaviour in adolescents between the self- and parent-ratings and the degree of confidentiality in the collection of the data are subjects for future research.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adolescent Psychiatry

KW - Age Distribution

KW - Child

KW - Child Psychiatry

KW - Comorbidity

KW - Female

KW - Germany

KW - Health Surveys

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Mental Disorders

KW - Parents

KW - Prevalence

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Self Disclosure

KW - Self Mutilation

KW - Suicide

U2 - 10.1007/s00787-008-1010-3

DO - 10.1007/s00787-008-1010-3

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 19132308

VL - 17

SP - 92

EP - 98

JO - EUR CHILD ADOLES PSY

JF - EUR CHILD ADOLES PSY

SN - 1018-8827

IS - 1

M1 - 1

ER -