Suicidal behavior in children and adolescents: Does a history of trauma predict less severe suicidal attempts?
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify risk factors and possible predictors of severity of suicidal behavior of children and adolescents. The results indicated that patients with any previous traumatic experience tended to have somatically less severe suicidal attempts (p=0.050).
Intensity of suicidal intent was associated with a history of depression (p=0.014) and anxiety disorders (p=0.004), and the current stress from a mental disorder (p=0.014). Somatic severity of suicidal behavior was significantly associated with intensity of suicidal intent (p=0.014).
A history of any trauma (previous traumatic experience predicted less severe suicidal behavior, p=0.053) and the current stress from sexual problems (p=0.067) were identified as predictors of somatic severity of suicidality. These two predictors showed only a trend level of significance.
The only significant predictor of intensity of suicidal intent was the current stress from mental illness (p=0.017).