Socio-environmental correlates of suicidality in adolescents with psychiatric disorders:a global health approach - database and code

Summary: Recently, suicidal behaviors have increased among adolescents, and diverse contributing factors are suggested. But they belong to different levels of understanding: individual, local, or international. Their heterogeneity highlights a need for a more comprehensive understanding of this major health problem, and a global approach is needed to develop preventive measures. The aim of this study is to explore the environment of adolescents hospitalized in a psychiatric unit, who have engaged in suicidal behavior.Method: This is a case-control study of 425 adolescents aged 15.5 on average from the "Family and Care" study, comparing a group of patients with suicidal behavior (n = 197) with control patients, according to the following variables: family interactions (according to the At-Risk Family Interactions and Levers scale (ARFIL), maltreatment, medical diagnoses and socio-professional categories. Regarding to suicidal behavior, a group of adolescents with heteroaggressivity was also identified (n = 87) and compared according to the same variables. We ran logistic regression models to determine the weight of the respective factors identified in the contribution to suicidal or heteroaggressive gestures.Results: Most adolescents who attempted suicide were girls (81.2%) from all socio-economic backgrounds. The impact of sexual violence (35% of cases), reinforced by a lack of family affiliation and BPD, contributed to their suicidal behavior. Social insecurity, cumulative abuse and neglect, as well as a lack of family affiliation and individuation, contribute along with neurodevelopmental disorder to HA behavior of boys.Conclusion: The global approach to suicidal behavior, and its counterpart, HA behavior, shows that it is possible to discern specific profiles on three levels: individual, family and societal. Preventive issues are discussed.