Characteristics of suicide among children and adolescents in Budapest

Poisoning in children and adolescents in Kermanshah city, Iran

BACKGROUND

Poisoning among children and adolescents is a public health problem worldwide. To take preventive measures, the pattern of this problem should be determined. This study aimed to describe the demographic characteristics of poisoning in children and to investigate the relationship between the types of poisoning and demographic factors in children in Kermanshah province.

METHODS

This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 250 children and adolescents under 18 years of age who were referred to Mohammad Kermanshahi Pediatric Hospital in Kermanshah province due to poisoning during 2019-2022. The demographic and epidemiological data of patients were extracted from their medical files and analyzed.

RESULTS

Out of 250 cases of poisoning, 173 (69.2%) cases were unintentional, 96 (55.5%) of whom were boys. Further, 77 (30.8%) cases of poisoning were intentional, of whom 49 (63.6%) were girls. There was a significant difference between gender and intentional and unintentional poisonings (p-value = 0.005). The median age of unintentional poisoning was 3 (IQR = 2.5) and that of intentional poisoning was 14 (IQR = 2). Most cases of poisoning were in cities, 145 (83.8%) of them were unintentional and 66 (85.7%) were intentional. Most cases of intentional and unintentional poisonings occurred in spring 2017 (35.1%) and autumn 2016 (34.6%), respectively. The most common causes of poisoning were narcotics (n = 36, 34.3%) and drugs (n = 35, 33.3%) in the age group 0-3 years and drugs (n = 46, 66.9) in the age group 11-18 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The most common causes of poisoning were narcotics and drugs in children and drugs in adolescents. To prevent poisoning in children, parents are required to increase their knowledge of the safe storage of narcotics and drugs, such as not storing methadone in a water bottle. Targeted evaluation and preventive measures are also needed in adolescent poisoning.

Combined Effects of Smartphone Overdependence and Stress on Depression and Suicide-Related Behaviors among High School Students

This study aimed to identify smartphone overdependency and stress’ combined effects on depression and suicide-related behaviors, such as suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts, among Korean high school students. Cross-sectional secondary data analysis was conducted using data from the 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. This study included 25,987 high school students. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, Rao-Scott chi-square test, and logistic regression based on a complex sample design. Regardless of smartphone overdependence, some stress and high stress were associated with higher depression than no stress and no smartphone overdependence. Furthermore, regardless of smartphone overdependence, some stress and high stress were associated with greater depression and suicidal ideation than no stress and no smartphone overdependence. However, only high stress was associated with suicide plans and attempts. Additionally, stress with smartphone overdependence increased the risk of depression and suicide-related behaviors, whereas the absence of stress did not significantly affect depression and suicide-related behaviors. Therefore, to prevent depression and suicide-related behaviors among high school students, continuous monitoring of and interventions to reduce stress levels should be prioritized. Moreover, as stress combined with smartphone overdependence increases the likelihood of depression and suicide-related behaviors, educational programs to prevent smartphone overdependence should be developed.

Suicidal childhood deaths with firearms in Antalya, Turkey

The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of suicidal childhood deaths with the use of firearms that occurred from 2000 to 2009 in Antalya. The autopsy reports of the Antalya branch of the Turkish Forensic Medicine Council and judicial records were reviewed retrospectively. There were 60 suicidal deaths between 0 and 18 years of age. Firearms were used in 20 cases (11 males, 9 females). The shotgun (n = 15) was the most frequently used weapon. The site of bullet entries were the chest (n = 6), abdomen (n = 5), right temple (n = 5), mouth (n = 2) and neck (n = 2). Most suicides (n = 16) were in the home. In contrast to many other studies, the most frequently used weapon for suicides was the shotgun in this study.

The association between school class composition and suicidal ideation in late adolescence: Findings from the Young-HUNT 3 study

BACKGROUND

Few studies have explored the association between social context and suicidal ideation using multilevel models. This study examines how suicidal ideation in adolescence is related to school class composition.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Young-HUNT 3 study (2006-2008), a population study of adolescents attending secondary school in the Norwegian county of Nord-Trøndelag. The final sample included 2923 adolescents distributed among 379 school classes in 13 schools. Multilevel logistic regression was used to estimate the contribution of various factors at the individual and school class levels.

RESULTS

The results indicate that 5.3 percent of the variation in suicidal ideation can be attributed to differences between school classes. However, a substantial part of this variation can be explained by an unequal distribution of students at risk as a result of individual factors. After controlling for individual-level variables, the results show a higher probability of suicidal ideation in school classes having higher proportions of girls as well as in those following a vocational education programme.

CONCLUSION

Targeting classes that either follow a vocational education programme or have a high proportion of girls can be an effective approach to intervention because such classes may include a greater number of students at risk for having suicidal thoughts compared to classes with a high proportion of boys or classes following a general education programme.

Suizide im Kindes- und Jugendalter

Fragestellung: Für die Verbesserung suizidpräventiver Maßnahmen im Kindes- und Jugendalter sind aktuelle und regionale Daten zur psychosozialen Situation und Todesumstände der Suizidenten hilfreich. Methodik: Retrospektiv wurden alle im Zeitraum von 1996 bis 2008 rechtsmedizinisch bekannt gewordenen Suizidfälle bis zum Alter von 21 Jahren im Zuständigkeitsbereich des Instituts für Rechtsmedizin Frankfurt am Main deskriptiv ausgewertet. Es wurden 78 Todesfälle eingeschlossen und mit einer Vergleichsstichprobe von 1.797 erwachsenen Suizidenten (> 21 Jahre) verglichen. Ergebnisse: Im Untersuchungszeitraum zeigte sich ein Rückgang der Suizidhäufigkeit in der Altersklasse der ≤ 21-Jährigen um 44 %. Der Anteil Inhaftierter dieser Gruppe betrug 8.0 % im Vergleich zu 2.56 % in der Gruppe der Erwachsenen. Unterschiede zum Suizid im Erwachsenenalter zeigten sich auch im Hinblick auf suizidbegleitenden Substanzkonsum (seltenerer Nachweis von Alkohol, häufigerer Nachweis von Rauschdrogen) und Methodenwahl (häufigerer Bahnsuizid). Schlussfolgerungen: Inhaftierte Jugendliche bilden eine wichtige Risikogruppe für Suizidalität und sollten vermehrt gezielt präventive Maßnahmen erhalten. Die Hinweise für eine altersabhängige Assoziation von Drogenkonsum und Suiziden sollten in der jugendpsychiatrischen klinischen Tätigkeit Beachtung finden.

Completed suicide in childhood

Suicide in children and young adolescents up to 14 years of age has increased in many countries, warranting research and clinical awareness. International reported suicide rates per 100,000 in this young population vary between 3.1 and 0 (mean rate worldwide, approximately 0.6/100.000; male-female ratio, 2:1). Suicide occurs only in vulnerable children; this vulnerability begins with parental mood disorder and impulsive aggression, and family history of suicide. Childhood affective and disruptive disorders and abuse are the most often reported psychiatric risk factors. Suicide becomes increasingly common after puberty, most probably because of pubertal onset of depression and substance abuse, which substantially aggravate suicide risk. Biologic findings are scarce; however, serotonergic dysfunction is assumed. The most common precipitants are school and family problems and may include actual/anticipated transitions in these environments. Suicides in children and young adolescents up to 14 years of age often follow a brief period of stress. Cognitive immaturity/misjudgment, age-related impulsivity, and availability of suicide methods play an important role. Psychologic autopsy studies that focus on suicides in this age group are needed.

Suicide among children and adolescents: data from Cukurova, Turkey

The purpose of this study was to investigate the general properties of suicide among children and adolescents in our region, and to evaluate the results in the light of the literature. The autopsy records of the morgue of the Adana branch of the Turkish Forensic Medicine Council were investigated retrospectively. Focus of the study was shaped by suicide cases in children and adolescents (under 18) between the years of 1997-2005. All of the cases were analyzed with regard to age, sex, method of suicide, and year. The childhood and adolescent (0-18 years) deaths comprised 24.4% (n: 1390) of all medico-legal autopsy cases (n: 6808). The origin of death in 186 (13.4%) cases involving victims younger than 18 years of age was suicide. The majority of suicide cases (62.9% n: 117) were females. Adolescents of 16-18 years of age constituted the overwhelming majority (70.43% n: 131) of all childhood suicides. Mean age was 16.13. The most frequent method of suicide was shooting in males, and poisoning in females. However, hanging was the most frequent method (34.41% n: 64) overall.

Relationship between academic stress and suicidal ideation: testing for depression as a mediator using multiple regression

Relations among academic stress, depression, and suicidal ideation were examined in 1,108 Asian adolescents 12-18 years old from a secondary school in Singapore. Using Baron and Kenny's [J Pers Soc Psychol 51:1173-1192, 1986] framework, this study tested the prediction that adolescent depression mediated the relationship between academic stress and suicidal ideation in a four-step process. The previously significant relationship between academic stress and suicidal ideation was significantly reduced in magnitude when depression was included in the model providing evidence in this sample that adolescent depression was a partial mediator. The applied and practical implications for intervention and prevention work in schools are discussed. The present investigation also served as a demonstration to illustrate how multiple regression analyses can be used as one possible method for testing mediation effects within child psychology and psychiatry.

Suicide attempts versus suicidal ideation in bulimic female adolescents

BACKGROUND

Suicide attempts by adolescents continue to be a major public health problem. The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in the family functioning and sociopsychopathological risk factor relationship between female bulimic adolescents with suicidal ideation only, and those who attempted suicide.

METHODS

A group of 211 patients were observed for 12 months. Data from 63 subjects (SUG [suicide group], age 17.2 +/- 1.3 years) who had attempted suicide were then compared with 148 (control group, age 18.1 +/- 1.5 years) who had expressed suicidal ideation but did not follow through.

RESULTS

Those in the suicide attempt group had been exposed more frequently to physical/sexual violence in childhood. As adults they either lived alone or were dissatisfied with their partnership. The frequency of borderline personality disorders and depressive disorders in this group was significant. Psychosomatic symptoms, disturbed coenesthesia, substance abuse, social impairment and interference with their perception of their own life circumstances, as well as their job performance, often preceded the suicide attempt. Nine genuine risk factors that occurred significantly more often in the SUG were calculated out of all the stress factors using stepwise logistic regression: 'as a child I was even hit with a stick or whip', 'I had no set orientation in life', 'I had a feeling of loneliness despite family and friends', 'I could not relax', 'incapable of dealing with the public', 'I do not like to be touched', 'parents have psychiatric disorders', 'misuse of stimulants', and 'as a child I felt lonely' (odds ratio, 10.56-1.90).

CONCLUSION

Adverse family experiences and multiple sociopsychopathological factors may increase the risk of suicide in female bulimic adolescents.

Suicide among Viennese minors, 1946-2002

OBJECTIVES

The first documented conference on suicide among school pupils was held by the Viennese Psychoanalytical Society in 1910, yet since then research on youth suicide in Vienna and Austria has been sparse. We investigated cases of suicide among Viennese minors over a period of 57 years in terms of prevalence, gender differences, suicide methods and monthly distribution.

METHODS

We studied registered suicides among Viennese youths aged 19 or younger occurring between 1946 and 2002 (n = 683).

RESULTS

The total suicide rate and the rates for male and female suicides among Viennese minors decreased over the period studied. The mean suicide rate was 6.2 per 100,000 (statistics on suicides per 100,000 were available only for the period 1953-2002), with a male-female ratio of 2.1:1. The predominant suicide method was domestic gas until its detoxification in Vienna. From 1976 jumping from a height became the most common suicide method of Viennese minors; it was also the predominant method among females, whereas hanging was the predominant method among males. Since 1996 the percentage of firearm suicides among males has doubled, and jumping suicides among females have tripled. A greater number of suicides among minors took place during the months of January, June, October and December.

CONCLUSIONS

Suicide rates of Viennese minors are on the decline, corresponding to a reported decrease in the general suicide rate in Austria. In view of an observed recent increase in firearm suicides among males and jumping suicides among females aged 19 and younger, further monitoring as well as legal and environmental prevention measures are needed.