In Case You Haven't Heard…

Abstract

Children diagnosed with major depressive disorder between the ages of 3 and 6 — known as preschool‐onset MDD — are more likely than their peers to express suicidal thoughts and behaviors before the age of 13, a report in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggests, according to an American Psychiatric Association news release. “While general [suicidal thoughts and behaviors] screening is not indicated for children under age 8, suicide assessment should be conducted if warning signs such as mood disturbances are present,” wrote Laura Hennefield, Ph.D., of the Washington University School of Medicine and colleagues. “Children with [preschool‐onset] MDD would likely benefit from increased suicide screening, proactive safety planning, and early interventions.” The study included 137 children aged 8 to 12 who met the criteria for preschool‐onset MDD, and 53 children aged 8 to 12 with no history of depression. The researchers found that 67.9% of 8 to 12‐year‐old children who had preschool‐onset MDD expressed suicidal thoughts and behaviors by preadolescence, including 26.3% over the prior month. In contrast, 22.6% of children without a history of depression endorsed suicidal thoughts and behaviors by preadolescence, including 3.8% over the prior month. The children with preschool‐onset MDD were also significantly more likely to have made a suicide attempt by age 12 compared with peers without depression history.