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Developmental trajectories of childhood symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention and suicidal behavior during adolescence

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Abstract

Hyperactive/inattentive symptoms (ADHD symptoms) are associated with suicidal behavior in clinical studies, but there is still a lack of population-based longitudinal investigations on the developmental aspects of this association. Additionally, it is unclear whether the association is similar for boys and girls. The objectives of the study were to test the association between the ADHD symptoms during childhood and suicidal ideation and attempt during adolescence, and to investigate sex differences. 1407 children from the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development were followed up from 5 months to 17 years of age. We used teacher-reports of ADHD symptoms from 6 to 12 years, and self-report of suicidal ideation and attempt at 13, 15, and 17 years. We identified three ADHD symptoms trajectories: low (boys: 32.2%, girls: 48.7%), moderate (boys: 44.6%; girls: 42.2%) and high (boys: 23.2%; girls: 9.1%). Compared to boys on a low trajectory, boys on a moderate trajectory were at higher risk for suicidal ideation (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.2–14.8), and boys on a high trajectory were at higher risk for suicide attempts (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.1–17.9). Girls on moderate or high ADHD symptoms trajectories were not at higher risk for suicidal ideation or attempts than girls on low trajectories. For boys, but not for girls, moderate-to-high ADHD symptoms increased the suicidal risk in adolescence. Interventions with boys showing ADHD symptoms should include a suicide prevention component.

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Acknowledgements

Dr. Orri reports receiving a postdoctoral research fellowship from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and a grant from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (#793396). Dr. Turecki reports holding a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) and a NARSAD Distinguished Investigator Award, and being supported by grants from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) (FDN148374 and EGM141899) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQS) through the Quebec Network on Suicide, Mood Disorders and Related Disorders. Dr. Boivin reports holding a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Child Development funded by CIHR.

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Author notes

  1. Alberto Forte and Massimiliano Orri contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    Alberto Forte & Maurizio Pompili

  2. McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    Massimiliano Orri & Gustavo Turecki

  3. Bordeaux Population Health Research Centre, Inserm U1219, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    Massimiliano Orri, Cédric Galera & Sylvana M. Côté

  4. School of Psychology, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada

    Michel Boivin

  5. Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada

    Richard E. Tremblay

  6. School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Richard E. Tremblay

  7. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Sylvana M. Côté

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  1. Alberto Forte
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Correspondence to Sylvana M. Côté.

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Forte, A., Orri, M., Galera, C. et al. Developmental trajectories of childhood symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention and suicidal behavior during adolescence. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 29, 145–151 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-019-01338-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-019-01338-0

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