Suicide Attempts In Adulthood Research Articles

Suicidal Behavior and Early Maladaptive Schemas and Schema Domains.

Suicidal behavior is a risk factor for suicide attempts. Identifying the factors that increase suicidal behavior risk is paramount for overall suicide prevention efforts. One model that may contribute to our understanding of the relationship between early life experiences and suicidal behavior is the schema theory. This study aimed to examine suicidal behavior, early maladaptive schemas (EMSs), and schema domains using a large Brazilian nonclinical sample. The study included 19,060 individuals. We assessed sociodemographic variables, suicidal behavior (Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire), and EMSs (Young Schema Questionnaire) using an online, Web-based survey. Our results showed that, when comparing participants with no ideation with those with serious suicide attempts, we found significant statistical differences in all EMSs (all p 's < 0.05), with higher scores in those with serious suicide attempts. Our results suggest that specific unmet emotional needs during childhood can affect mental health and result in serious suicide attempts in adulthood.

Associations of adverse and protective childhood experiences with thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicide risk among sexual minority men.

Sexual minority men (SMM) experience higher suicidal ideation and suicide attempts than the general population. We examined the associations of adverse childhood experiences (ACES) and protective and compensatory childhood experiences (PACES) with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in adulthood via thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness among SMM. Data are from the UNITE study, a national longitudinal cohort study of HIV-negative SMM from the 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Between 2017 and 2019, participants (N = 6303) completed web-based assessments at baseline and 12-month follow-up. ACES and PACES occurring before the age of 18, and current symptoms of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness were assessed at baseline. Past-week suicidal ideation and past-year suicide attempt were assessed at follow-up. 424 (6.7%) participants reported past-week suicidal ideation and 123 (2.0%) reported a past-year suicide attempt. The results of our multivariate model suggest that each additional adverse childhood experience was prospectively associated with 14% higher odds of past-week suicidal ideation (AOR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.09-1.19) and 19% higher odds of past-year suicide attempt (AOR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.11-1.29). Each additional protective childhood experience was prospectively associated with 15% lower odds of past-week suicidal ideation (AOR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.81-0.90) and 11% lower odds of past-year suicide attempt (AOR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.82-0.98). Perceived burdensomeness partially mediated these prospective associations. To reduce suicide, screening and treating perceived burdensomeness among SMM with high ACES may be warranted. PACES may decrease perceived burdensomeness and associated suicide risk.

The mediating role of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in the association between child neglect and suicide attempt in adulthood

To examine the association between child neglect and adult suicide risk as well as the underlying mechanism. Adults aged 18 or older from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions Wave 3 who did not have suicide attempts before 18 were included (N = 35,275). Child neglect was categorized into emotional and physical neglect. Suicide risk was captured by suicide attempt. Mediators included internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Natural effect models along with regression analyses were used to estimate the mediated models. Respondents who reported child emotional neglect had greater odds of attempting suicide than those who did not report child emotional neglect. This association was partially mediated by internalizing symptoms. Child emotional neglect is associated with greater odds of suicide attempt and internalizing symptoms partially mediate this association. These results highlight the importance of a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention which includes providing safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments to prevent child neglect.

Academic performance, subsequent socioeconomic status and suicide attempt in adulthood: path analyses on Swedish cohort data

BackgroundPoor academic performance in childhood is associated with suicide attempt in adulthood, but the mechanisms are not known. We investigated educational attainment as a possible pathway.MethodsWe followed two sets of...

Longitudinal investigation of DNA methylation changes preceding adolescent psychotic experiences

Childhood psychotic experiences (PEs), such as seeing or hearing things that others do not, or extreme paranoia, are relatively common with around 1 in 20 children reporting them at age 12. Childhood PEs are often distressing and can be predictive of schizophrenia, other psychiatric disorders, and suicide attempts in adulthood, particularly if they persist during adolescence. Previous research has demonstrated that methylomic signatures in blood could be potential biomarkers of psychotic phenomena. This study explores the association between DNA methylation (DNAm) and the emergence, persistence, and remission of PEs in childhood and adolescence. DNAm profiles were obtained from the ALSPAC cohort at birth, age 7, and age 15/17 (n = 901). PEs were assessed through interviews with participants at ages 12 and 18. We identified PE-associated probes (p < 5 × 10−5) and regions (corrected p < 0.05) at ages 12 and 18. Several of the differentially methylated probes were also associated with the continuity of PEs across adolescence. One probe (cg16459265), detected consistently at multiple timepoints in the study sample, was replicated in an independent sample of twins (n = 1658). Six regions, including those spanning the HLA-DBP2 and GDF7 genes, were consistently differentially methylated at ages 7 and 15–17. Findings from this large, population-based study suggest that DNAm at multiple stages of development may be associated with PEs in late childhood and adolescence, though further replication is required. Research uncovering biomarkers associated with pre-clinical PEs is important as it has the potential to facilitate early identification of individuals at increased risk who could benefit from preventive interventions.

SA54 - DNA METHYLATION AND ADOLESCENT TRAJECTORIES OF PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS

Background Psychotic Symptoms (PS) are often distressing and can be predictive of schizophrenia, other psychiatric disorders and suicide attempts in adulthood, particularly if they persist during adolescence. Previous research in diagnosis-discordant monozygotic twin-pairs and patient-control samples has demonstrated that changes in epigenetic processes could be potential biomarkers of the emergence and persistence of PS. Investigation in large, pre-clinical population-based samples is urgently required. The aim of this study is to explore the association between DNA methylation and the emergence, persistence, and remission of PS in childhood and adolescence. Methods DNA methylation data (Illumina 450k) were obtained from the ARIES subsample of the ALSPAC birth cohort at birth, age 7, and age 15/17 (N=901). PS were assessed in private interviews with the participants at ages 12 and 18. EWAS were conducted to determine the association between DNA methylation at each time-point and reports of PS at ages 12 and 18, controlling for pregnancy and birth-related covariates and cell-type composition. Gene Ontology (GO) term enrichment analyses of the top probes were performed to identify important pathways. The top probes from each EWAS were used to investigate the role of DNA methylation in the persistence and remission of PS by comparing individuals with no history of PS, those whose symptoms persisted, and those whose symptoms remitted. Multilevel models were then constructed to test the association between the longitudinal methylomic trajectory of the top CpG sites and the trajectory of psychotic symptoms. Results from a replication of the top findings in an independent cohort will also be presented. Results A number of probes were differentially methylated (p Discussion Findings from this large, population-based study suggest that epigenetic processes at multiple stages of development may be associated with the emergence, remission, and persistence of PS in late childhood and adolescence. Research uncovering biomarkers associated with pre-clinical PS is important as it has the potential to facilitate early identification of individuals at increased risk and target preventive interventions.

Attachment style and history of childhood abuse in suicide attempters

Insecure attachment style has been observed in some people with a history of suicide attempt. Furthermore, some types of abuse in childhood may predict suicide attempt in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to assess the attachment style, history of abuse, demographic information and number of suicide attempts in suicide attempters. This cross-sectional study was performed on 80 suicide attempters in Tehran in 2017. Demographic information, suicide behavior, attachment style and history of childhood abuse were assessed in a psychological interview using the Revised Adult Attachment Scale. Of all, 38.8% had attempted suicide once and 45% had experienced heavy maltreatment in childhood. There was no significant correlation between the number of suicide attempts and the attachment style. History of abuse could predict the number of suicide attempts in 17.3%, which was not significant; 78.8% had avoidant attachment style. The frequency of avoidant and ambivalent attachment styles was higher in suicide attempters who had experienced maltreatment in childhood. Considering the important role of attachment style and history of abuse in attempting suicide, knowledge in this regard is important especially in those at risk of suicide attempt to plan early psychological intervention and prevent suicide.

Associations of adverse childhood experiences and suicidal behaviors in adulthood in a U.S. nationally representative sample.

Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults. The current study extends the research linking adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to suicidal behaviors by testing these associations using a nationally representative sample, assessing for suicide ideation and attempts in adulthood, controlling for established risk factors for suicidality, and measuring a broad array of ACEs. The sample included 9,421 participants from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health who participated in four waves of assessments spanning 13years. We examined longitudinal associations between eight different ACEs (physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, parental death, incarceration, alcoholism, and family suicidality) with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in adulthood, while controlling for depression, problem alcohol use, drug use, delinquency, impulsivity, gender, race, age, and urbanicity. We also tested for cumulative associations of ACEs with suicide ideation and attempts. Logistic regression analyses indicated that physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, parental incarceration, and family history of suicidality each increased the risk by 1.4 to 2.7 times for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in adulthood. The accumulation of ACEs increased the odds of suicide ideation and attempts. Compared with those with no ACEs, the odds of seriously considering suicide or attempting suicide in adulthood increased more than threefold among those with three or more ACEs. Intervention strategies need to prevent ACEs from occurring and, if they do occur, should take into account the impact of cumulative ACEs on suicide risk. Future research should focus on identifying mediating mechanisms for the ACEs-suicidality association using longitudinal research designs and determine which ACEs are most important to include in a cumulative ACE measure.

Unpacking the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult mental health

Exposure to childhood adversity has an impact on adult mental health, increasing the risk for depression and suicide. Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and several adult mental and behavioral health outcomes are well documented in the literature, establishing the need for prevention. The current study analyzes the relationship between an expanded ACE score that includes being spanked as a child and adult mental health outcomes by examining each ACE separately to determine the contribution of each ACE. Data were drawn from Wave II of the CDC-Kaiser ACE Study, consisting of 7465 adult members of Kaiser Permanente in southern California. Dichotomous variables corresponding to each of the 11 ACE categories were created, with ACE score ranging from 0 to 11 corresponding to the total number of ACEs experienced. Multiple logistic regression modeling was used to examine the relationship between ACEs and adult mental health outcomes adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Results indicated a graded dose-response relationship between the expanded ACE score and the likelihood of moderate to heavy drinking, drug use, depressed affect, and suicide attempts in adulthood. In the adjusted models, being spanked as a child was significantly associated with all self-reported mental health outcomes. Over 80% of the sample reported exposure to at least one ACE, signifying the potential to capture experiences not previously considered by traditional ACE indices. The findings highlight the importance of examining both cumulative ACE scores and individual ACEs on adult health outcomes to better understand key risk and protective factors for future prevention efforts.

Academic performance in childhood and the risk of attempting suicide as an adult

Background and objectivesPrevious studies have identified education as an important indicator of future psychological outcomes through the lens of parental education level. Here, we seek to understand how education affects suicide through the perspective of the child's education. MethodsThe current study follows a cohort from the Providence National Collaborative Perinatal Project from birth to adulthood with a follow-up at age 7. Through measures of reading, writing, and IQ administered at follow up, we examine the effects of early childhood education on adult mental health status and suicide attempt. ResultsWe found that among males, those scoring below 88 on the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) had a suicide attempt rate of 14.4% while those whose scores were above 106 had a suicide attempt rate of 8.8%. In females, the suicide attempt rates for those with WRAT scores below 88 and above 106 were 18.6% and 9.5%, respectively. We also found that females scoring below 89 on measures of Full-Scale IQ had much higher suicide attempt rates (16.6%) than those with higher scores. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that reading and writing, and thus educational attainment at age 7, were predictive risk for suicide attempt in adulthood. Educators, parents, and mental health professionals should be aware of this association and monitor students who perform poorly academically for signs of depression and suicidal ideation, offering the appropriate support when necessary.

The Moderating Effects of Gratitude on the Association Between Perceived Parenting Styles and Suicidal Ideation

Suicidal ideation is defined as the thoughts about engaging in suicidal-related behaviors. Very few studies have been conducted on children’s suicidal ideation as there is a biased perception that suicidal behavior under the age of 12 is scarce. However, suicide is the leading cause of death among young children. Child suicidal ideation is predictive of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in adulthood. Association between certain parenting styles and suicidal ideation have been found in empirical studies. However, little is known about the role of parenting and suicidal ideation in Chinese young children. We examined whether gratitude can reduce the risk of suicide by moderating the association between parenting styles and child suicidal ideation. We recruited 447 Chinese children (53.3% female; mean age = 10.06, SD = 1.76) to participate in a survey. Perceived parenting style (warmth/accepting, dominating, and autonomy granting), gratitude, and suicidal ideation were assessed using self-reported measures. We found that all three perceived parental styles were significantly associated with child suicidal ideation. Further, gratitude was found to have a significant moderating effect on suicidal ideation, across the analysis of the three perceived parenting styles. This suggests that gratitude may be adopted in preventive and clinical interventions so that children at risk can benefit from reducing the negative effects of ineffective parenting styles and suicidal ideation.

Methylomic analysis of monozygotic twins discordant for childhood psychotic symptoms

Childhood psychotic symptoms are associated with increased rates of schizophrenia, other psychiatric disorders, and suicide attempts in adulthood; thus, elucidating early risk indicators is crucial to target prevention efforts. There is considerable discordance for psychotic symptoms between monozygotic twins, indicating that child-specific non-genetic factors must be involved. Epigenetic processes may constitute one of these factors and have not yet been investigated in relation to childhood psychotic symptoms. Therefore, this study explored whether differences in DNA methylation at age 10 were associated with monozygotic twin discordance for psychotic symptoms at age 12. The Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study cohort of 2,232 children (1,116 twin pairs) was assessed for age-12 psychotic symptoms and 24 monozygotic twin pairs discordant for symptoms were identified for methylomic comparison. Children provided buccal samples at ages 5 and 10. DNA was bisulfite modified and DNA methylation was quantified using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 array. Differentially methylated positions (DMPs) associated with psychotic symptoms were subsequently tested in post-mortem prefrontal cortex tissue from adult schizophrenia patients and age-matched controls. Site-specific DNA methylation differences were observed at age 10 between monozygotic twins discordant for age-12 psychotic symptoms. Similar DMPs were not found at age 5. The top-ranked psychosis-associated DMP (cg23933044), located in the promoter of the C5ORF42 gene, was also hypomethylated in post-mortem prefrontal cortex brain tissue from schizophrenia patients compared to unaffected controls. These data tentatively suggest that epigenetic variation in peripheral tissue is associated with childhood psychotic symptoms and may indicate susceptibility to schizophrenia and other mental health problems.

Prevalence and correlates of child sexual abuse: a national study

BackgroundThis study examines the prevalence, correlates, and psychiatric disorders of adults with history of child sexual abuse (CSA). MethodsData were derived from a large national sample of the US population. More than 34000 adults 18 years and older residing in households were interviewed face-to-face in a survey conducted during the 2004-2005 period. Diagnoses were based on the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule–Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, version. Weighted means, frequencies, and odds ratios of sociodemographic correlates and prevalence of psychiatric disorders were computed. Logistic regression models were used to examine the strength of associations between CSA and psychiatric disorders, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, risk factors, and other Axis I psychiatric disorders. ResultsThe prevalence of CSA was 10.14% (24.8% in men and 75.2% in women). Child physical abuse, maltreatment, and neglect were more prevalent among individuals with CSA than among those without it. Adults with CSA history had significantly higher rates of any Axis I disorder and suicide attempts. The frequency, type, and number of CSA were significantly correlated with psychopathology. ConclusionsThe high correlation rates of CSA with psychopathology and increased risk for suicide attempts in adulthood suggest the need for a systematic assessment of psychiatric disorders and suicide risk in these individuals. The risk factors for CSA emphasize the need for health care initiatives geared toward increasing recognition and development of treatment approaches for the emotional sequelae CSA as well as early preventive approaches.

Victims of bullying in childhood and suicide attempts in adulthood

Purpose To examine whether self-reported exposure to bullying during childhood is associated with suicide attempts over the life course, and if so, what mechanisms could account for this relationship. Subjects and methods A random probability sample comprising 7461 respondents was interviewed for the 2007 survey of psychiatric morbidity of adults in Great Britain. Survey respondents were asked about suicidal attempts and whether they were bullied in childhood. Results Recall of being bullied in childhood decreased with age from 25% of 16–24-year-olds to 4% among those 75 or over with few differences in the proportions between men and women. Bullying co-occurred with several victimisation experiences including sexual abuse and severe beatings and with running away from home. Even after controlling for lifetime factors known to increase the risk of suicidal behaviour, adults who reported bullying in childhood were still more than twice as likely as other adults to attempt suicide later in life. Discussion Being the victim of bullying involves the experience of suffering a defeat and humiliation that in turn could lead to entrapment, hopelessness, depression and suicidal behaviour. Conclusions Bullying is already known to be associated with substantial distress and other negative consequences and this further evidence of a strong correlation with the risk of suicide in later life should increase further the motivation of society, services and citizens to act decisively to reduce bullying in childhood.

Suicidality and trait aggression related to childhood victimization in patients with alcoholism

The relationship between physical abuse in childhood and suicide attempts in adulthood has long been known. However, the phenomenon has not been examined in patients who are undergoing treatment for alcoholism. In this study we seek an answer to the questions of whether exposure to physical abuse in childhood predisposes to violence, which in turn increases the likelihood of suicidal behavior in adulthood. The sample studied comprised 172 patients with alcohol dependence and with data for childhood physical abuse, trait aggression and lifetime suicide attempts. The measuring instruments used for the investigation were the European Addiction Severity Index, the Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire and the Janus Questionnaire. Generalized Linear Model analysis revealed a significant gender-dependent association between physical abuse by the parents suffered in childhood and later suicide attempts. In females, childhood victimization by parents increased the likelihood of suicide attempts by approximately 15 times; in males, the increase was about twofold. Association of suicide attempts with the overall level of trait aggression also significantly interacted with gender. In females, the increase in the level of total scores of the trait aggression from 0 to 50 points (approximately the mean level in the study population) elevated the likelihood of the suicide attempts by almost ninefold, whereas the analogous increase in males was about threefold. The results draw attention to the importance of preventing suicide in clinical populations of alcohol-dependent patients.

Negative Life Events in Childhood, Psychological Problems and Suicide Attempts in Adulthood: A Matched Case-Control Study

The purpose of the study was to investigate relations between childhood negative life events (parental loss, parental mental illness and parental abuse), adult psychological problems (depression, hopelessness, low self-esteem, low self-appraised problem-solving capacity, and alcohol problems) and suicidal behavior. A matched case control design was applied (total N =321). Risk of suicide attempt was found to be related to childhood negative life events as well as to psychological problems of adulthood. Moreover, the effects of childhood events were found to be partially mediated through the psychological problems, and gender-specific risk pathways were identified. For men, the central pathway involved parental mental illness during childhood and low self-esteem in adulthood. For women, childhood abuse, adulthood depression and alcohol problems appeared to constitute central factors. Additionally, effects were found for previous suicide attempts.