Premium
Suicidal Thinking and Behavior in Adolescents at Ultra‐High Risk of Psychosis: A Two‐year Longitudinal Study
Author(s) -
Pelizza Lorenzo,
Poletti Michele,
Azzali Silvia,
Paterlini Federica,
Garlassi Sara,
Scazza Ilaria,
Chiri Luigi Rocco,
Pupo Simona,
Raballo Andrea
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/sltb.12549
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , psychosis , depression (economics) , psychiatry , longitudinal study , clinical psychology , psychology , suicide prevention , prodrome , population , poison control , medicine , medical emergency , environmental health , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Objective Suicide risk in subjects at Ultra‐High Risk of psychosis ( UHR ) has been rarely assessed in adolescence, but it is of obvious importance for prognostic and clinical care reasons. In this study, we aimed to prospectively assess suicide risk and behaviors in UHR adolescents. Method We examined 112 help‐seeking adolescents (13–18 years, 50% males, 83.9% Caucasian) that were enrolled in the Reggio Emilia At‐Risk Mental States (Re ARMS ) project and followed up for 2 years. Specific items derived from the Comprehensive Assessment of At‐Risk Mental States ( CAARMS ) and the Beck Depression Inventory‐ II ( BDI ‐ II ) were used to assess suicide risk. Suicide attempts and completed suicides were also recorded. Results Baseline assessment detected 40 UHR adolescents, 32 FEP (first‐episode psychosis), and 40 non‐ UHR / FEP . We found that 67.5% of UHR adolescents had suicidal ideation, and 18.5% to severe degree. Attempted suicide before enrollment was higher in the UHR group than in non‐ UHR / FEP peers (17.5% vs. 2.5%). BDI ‐ II suicidal ideation severity was stable at 12‐month follow‐up and decreased at 24‐month follow‐up. Conclusions A high prevalence of suicidal ideation among UHR adolescents was found and supports the routine monitoring of risk of self‐injurious thinking and behavior in this at‐risk population.