Differences between children and adolescents who commit suicide and their peers: A psychological autopsy of suicide victims compared to accident victims and a community sample

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge about the circumstances related to suicide among children and adolescents 15 years and younger.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a psychological autopsy, colle...

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Main Authors: Freuchen Anne, Kjelsberg Ellen, Lundervold Astri J, Grøholt Berit
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2012-01-01
Series:Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.capmh.com/content/6/1/1
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author Freuchen Anne
Kjelsberg Ellen
Lundervold Astri J
Grøholt Berit
author_facet Freuchen Anne
Kjelsberg Ellen
Lundervold Astri J
Grøholt Berit
author_sort Freuchen Anne
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge about the circumstances related to suicide among children and adolescents 15 years and younger.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a psychological autopsy, collecting information from parents, hospital records and police reports on persons below the age of 16 who had committed suicide in Norway during a 12-year period (1993-2004) (n = 41). Those who committed suicide were compared with children and adolescents who were killed in accidents during the same time period (n = 43) and with a community sample. <b>Results: </b>Among the suicides 25% met the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis and 30% had depressive symptoms at the time of death. Furthermore, 60% of the parents of the suicide victims reported the child experienced some kind of stressful conflict prior to death, whereas only 12% of the parents of the accident victims reported such conflicts.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>One in four suicide victims fulfilled the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis. The level of sub-threshold depression and of stressful conflict experienced by youths who committed suicide did not appear to differ substantially from that of their peers, and therefore did not raise sufficient concern for referral to professional help.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-568b6870f4f74428a5ad1721d550227e2022-12-22T01:36:20ZengBMCChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health1753-20002012-01-0161110.1186/1753-2000-6-1Differences between children and adolescents who commit suicide and their peers: A psychological autopsy of suicide victims compared to accident victims and a community sampleFreuchen AnneKjelsberg EllenLundervold Astri JGrøholt Berit<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge about the circumstances related to suicide among children and adolescents 15 years and younger.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a psychological autopsy, collecting information from parents, hospital records and police reports on persons below the age of 16 who had committed suicide in Norway during a 12-year period (1993-2004) (n = 41). Those who committed suicide were compared with children and adolescents who were killed in accidents during the same time period (n = 43) and with a community sample. <b>Results: </b>Among the suicides 25% met the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis and 30% had depressive symptoms at the time of death. Furthermore, 60% of the parents of the suicide victims reported the child experienced some kind of stressful conflict prior to death, whereas only 12% of the parents of the accident victims reported such conflicts.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>One in four suicide victims fulfilled the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis. The level of sub-threshold depression and of stressful conflict experienced by youths who committed suicide did not appear to differ substantially from that of their peers, and therefore did not raise sufficient concern for referral to professional help.</p>http://www.capmh.com/content/6/1/1Childrenadolescentssuicidefatal accidents
spellingShingle Freuchen Anne
Kjelsberg Ellen
Lundervold Astri J
Grøholt Berit
Differences between children and adolescents who commit suicide and their peers: A psychological autopsy of suicide victims compared to accident victims and a community sample
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
Children
adolescents
suicide
fatal accidents
title Differences between children and adolescents who commit suicide and their peers: A psychological autopsy of suicide victims compared to accident victims and a community sample
title_full Differences between children and adolescents who commit suicide and their peers: A psychological autopsy of suicide victims compared to accident victims and a community sample
title_fullStr Differences between children and adolescents who commit suicide and their peers: A psychological autopsy of suicide victims compared to accident victims and a community sample
title_full_unstemmed Differences between children and adolescents who commit suicide and their peers: A psychological autopsy of suicide victims compared to accident victims and a community sample
title_short Differences between children and adolescents who commit suicide and their peers: A psychological autopsy of suicide victims compared to accident victims and a community sample
title_sort differences between children and adolescents who commit suicide and their peers a psychological autopsy of suicide victims compared to accident victims and a community sample
topic Children
adolescents
suicide
fatal accidents
url http://www.capmh.com/content/6/1/1
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