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Suicide among adolescents

A psychological autopsy study of psychiatric, psychosocial and personality-related risk factors

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The suicide rate among young males in Belgium has doubled over the last decade. As more knowledge about risk factors is required to develop national prevention strategies, we investigated adolescent suicides using the psychological autopsy method.

Methods

A total of 32 informants were interviewed regarding 19 suicide cases (aged 15–19). A semi-structured interview schedule, constructed by Houston et al. (J Affect Disord 63:159–170, 2001), was used.

Results

All adolescents were suffering from one or more mental disorder(s) at the time of their death, and almost half of them were diagnosed with personality disorders. Adjustment disorders were diagnosed in one fifth of the sample, which appears to be relevant in view of the multiple life events and other psychosocial problems which adolescents were facing shortly before death. This suggests that difficulties in coping with stressful psychosocial problems are important in the course of the suicidal process. Only a small minority was receiving treatment for their disorders.

Conclusions

Mental disorders, commonly untreated and combined with personality disorders and psychosocial problems, are frequently found in young suicide victims. This study suggests that education in the diagnosis and treatment of depression, adjustment disorders and suicide is important in the prevention of suicide.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Fund for Scientific Research-Flanders (Belgium). We would also like to thank the self-help groups for survivors who assisted us in the recruitment. We are especially grateful to the relatives and friends who kindly agreed to be interviewed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit for Suicide Research, Dept. of Psychiatry, University Hospital Gent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Gent, Belgium

    Gwendolyn Portzky, Kurt Audenaert & Kees van Heeringen

Authors
  1. Gwendolyn Portzky
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  2. Kurt Audenaert
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  3. Kees van Heeringen
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Correspondence to Gwendolyn Portzky.

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Portzky, G., Audenaert, K. & van Heeringen, K. Suicide among adolescents. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 40, 922–930 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0977-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0977-x

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