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Substance abuse and suicide risk among adolescents

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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to review the literature concerning the relationship between suicide and substance abuse behaviours among adolescents, focusing on epidemiology, comorbidity and preventive programmes. We performed a Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, PsycLit and PsycInfo search to identify all papers and book chapters during the period between 1980 and 2011. Adolescents with substance abuse disorder who attempt or complete suicide can be characterized as having mood disorders, stressful life events, interpersonal problems, poor social support, lonely lives and feelings of hopelessness. The research supports the existence of a strong relationship between suicide and substance abuse. Preventive programmes should be based on the detection of risk factors associated with both suicide and substance abuse disorder. Management programmes should combine different therapeutic strategies such as peer-to-peer education, school-based programmes, psychotherapy and pharmacological treatment. Evidence suggests that targeted suicide prevention programmes can be delivered which reduce the burden associated with substance abuse and suicide in youths.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Maurizio Pompili, Gianluca Serafini, Marco Innamorati & Paolo Girardi

  2. McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA

    Maurizio Pompili

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy

    Massimo Biondi

  4. Department of Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy

    Alberto Siracusano

  5. Neuroscience and Imaging Department, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy

    Massimo Di Giannantonio

  6. Department of Psychiatry, Bolzano, Italy

    Giancarlo Giupponi

  7. Department of Neurosciences, Division of Psychiatry, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

    Mario Amore

  8. The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona, NJ, USA

    David Lester

  9. Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Anne Maria Möller-Leimkühler

  10. Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs—Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 1035-1039 Via di Grottarossa, 00189, Rome, Italy

    Maurizio Pompili

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  1. Maurizio Pompili
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Correspondence to Maurizio Pompili.

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Pompili, M., Serafini, G., Innamorati, M. et al. Substance abuse and suicide risk among adolescents. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 262, 469–485 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-012-0292-0

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