Young people's risk of suicide attempts in relation to parental death: a population-based register study

Background: The objective of this study was to examine the association between the death of a biological parent and subsequent suicide attempts by young people (aged 10–22 years), and to explore sociodemographic factors as modifying factors in the process. Methods: The study used a nested case–control design. The full study population was obtained from the Danish longitudinal registers and included all individuals born between 1983 and 1989 (n = 403,431 individuals). The 3,465 registered suicide attempters from that group were matched with 75,300 population‐based control subjects. Potentially confounding variables including age and gender were controlled for by conditional logistic regression analyses. Results: The findings indicated that young people who had lost one biological parent showed a significantly increased risk of attempting suicide (relative risk = 1.71, 95% confidence interval = 1.49–1.96). Losing the remaining parent nearly doubled the risk (relative risk = 2.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.48–5.06). Conclusion: Experiencing the death of one or both biological parents increased the risk of suicide attempts in young people. Relative risk was moderated by high income of the father.     

Traumatic pelvic fractures in children and adolescents

Although traumatic pelvic fractures in children are relatively rare, these injuries are identified in about 5% of children admitted to level 1 trauma centers after blunt trauma.1, 2, 3, 4 Such injuries differ from adult pelvic fractures in important ways and require distinct strategies for management. While the associated mortality rate for children with pelvic fractures is much lower than that for adults, the patient may require urgent surgical intervention for associated life-threatening injuries such as head trauma and abdominal injury. Unstable pelvic ring fractures should be acutely managed using an initial approach similar to that used in adult orthopedic traumatology. Although very few pediatric pelvic fractures will ultimately need surgical treatment, patients with these injuries must be followed over time to confirm proper healing, ensure normal pelvic growth, and address any potential complications. The trauma team suspecting a pelvic fracture in a child must understand the implication of such a finding, identify fracture patterns that increase suspicion of associated injuries, and involve pediatric or adult orthopedic specialists as appropriate during the management of the patient.     

Increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes in adolescents

OBJECTIVE: The rising prevalence of obesity in childhood and adolescence in North America has been paralleled by the emergence of type 2 diabetes in the adolescent age group. We have examined trends in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in adolescents attending a diabetes clinic in Auckland, New Zealand. METHODS: Surveys of the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in attendees at the adolescent diabetes clinic at the Auckland Diabetes Centre were undertaken in 1996 and 2002. The proportion of type 2 diabetes in incident cases of diabetes diagnosed between these years was also calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 1.8% (2/110) in 1996, and 11.0% (18/163) in 2002 (P = 0.008). Type 2 diabetes accounted for 12.5% (6/48) of incident cases of diabetes in the years 1997-1999, and 35.7% (10/28) of cases in the years 2000-2001, indicating a sharp rise in the incidence (P = 0.017) between the two periods. At diagnosis the mean age of the type 2 diabetes subjects was 15 years and the mean body mass index 34.6 kg/m2. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease were common in the subjects with type 2 diabetes: 85% had dyslipidaemia, 58% had increased albumin excretion rates and 28% had systolic hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity-related type 2 diabetes now accounts for a substantial proportion of newly recognized diabetes in the adolescent age group - and this proportion is escalating rapidly. Adverse cardiovascular risk factors are prevalent in this population. Public health measures to curtail the rise of obesity in childhood and adolescence are required urgently.     

Attention to novelty in behaviorally inhibited adolescents moderates risk for anxiety

Background:  Individual differences in specific components of attention contribute to behavioral reactivity and regulation. Children with the temperament of behavioral inhibition (BI) provide a good context for considering the manner in which certain components of attention shape behavior. Infants and children characterized as behaviorally inhibited manifest signs of heightened orienting to novelty. The current study considers whether this attention profile moderates risk for clinical anxiety disorders among adolescents with a history of BI.
Methods:  Participants were assessed at multiple time points for BI, beginning in early childhood. At adolescence, event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded during a three-stimulus auditory novelty oddball task, which employed frequent standard and infrequent deviant tones as well as a set of complex, novel sounds. Clinical diagnosis was carried out using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). P3 and mismatch negativity (MMN) components were examined at midline frontal, central, and parietal electrode sites.
Results:  Individuals who displayed high levels of BI during childhood and increased P3 amplitude to novelty in adolescence were more likely to have a history of anxiety disorders compared to behaviorally inhibited adolescents with lower P3 amplitudes. Groups did not differ on measures of MMN.
Conclusions:  Increased neural responses to novelty moderate risk for anxiety disorders amongst individuals with a history of BI.     

Sleep duration and overweight among Australian children and adolescents

Aim: To examine the association between sleep and overweight and waist circumference (WC) in children and adolescents. Methods: Data were from a nationally representative sample of 6324 7-15-y-old males and females from the Australian Health and Fitness Survey. Associations between sleep duration and body mass index (BMI) and WC were examined by analysis of covariance, linear regression, and logistic regression. Results: In the total sample, there was a significant main effect across sleep-duration categories (≤8 h, 8-9 h, 9-10 h, and ≥10 h) for BMI. Linear regression showed significant age, sex, age-sleep, and age-sex-sleep interactions in the total sample. There was an inverse graded relationship between sleep and BMI and WC in boys. In boys, there was a 1.6-1.8 times greater odds of overweight for those who reported 8-9 h or 9-10 h of sleep compared to those reporting ≥10 h of sleep. For boys reporting ≤8 h of sleep, there was about 3.1 times greater odds of overweight compared to those reporting ≥10 h of sleep. In contrast, no significant associations between sleep and overweight were found in girls.
Conclusion: Sleep duration was inversely related with overweight in young males but not females.     

Stressful life events and asthma in adolescents

Recent studies suggest that psychosocial factors may contribute to asthma. We examined associations of stressful life events with asthma prevalence and morbidity among Chicago adolescents. Self-reported asthma, measures of asthma morbidity, and 15 life events were collected from 2026 seventh to ninth grade students from 34 Chicago Catholic schools as part of the International Study of Allergies and Asthma in Childhood in 1994–95. Life events were reported by 77% of adolescents and overall asthma prevalence was 15.5%. Stressful life events in adolescents were significantly related to both asthma and asthma morbidity. Odds of asthma was 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07, 1.95) for those reporting two to three stressful events and 1.92 (95% CI = 1.41, 2.62) for subjects endorsing more than three stressful events. In adolescents with asthma, number of asthma symptoms (odds ratio [OR] for increase in one event = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.07, 1.27), asthma-related school absenteeism (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.32), physician visits for asthma (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.29), and hospitalization for asthma (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.001, 1.44) were significantly associated with the number of stressful events, independent of home exposure to cigarette smoke and dampness, use of inhaled substances, and sociodemographic factors. While these results are not sufficient to assign causality in the relationship between stress and asthma, they are supported by a number of other studies and by plausible biologic mechanisms. Assessing and addressing the effects of stressful life events may be helpful in managing asthma in inner city adolescents.     

Clinical review of mania, hostility and suicide-related events in children and adolescents treated with antidepressants

BACKGROUND

Recent controversy surrounding the use of non-tricyclic antidepressants and the emergence of suicide-related events, hostility/behavioural activation and mania in youth with depression warrants an exploration of the results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and published case reports for the emergence of these adverse events.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a clinical review of the available evidence from RCTs and case reports regarding the safety of nontricyclic anti-depressants in youth with depression.

METHODS

Seven RCTs of antidepressant use in youth with depression, four case reports of suicide-related adverse events, three case reports of hostility/behavioural activation, and 12 case reports of precipitation of mania were reviewed.

RESULTS

The majority of patients with suicide-related adverse events from both RCTs and published case reports were suicidal before the start of antidepressant treatment. Hostility/behavioural activation generally developed within days to weeks after the start of antidepressant treatment; in the majority of cases, symptoms resolved within four weeks of dosage lowering or discontinuation of the medication alone. Rates for precipitation of mania from RCTs ranged from 0% to 6%. In approximately 60% of published case reports, manic symptoms resolved with the discontinuation or lowering of the dosage of medication alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Several trends were observed in the association between adverse events and the use of nontricyclic antidepressants in youth. When prescribing antidepressants to youth, clinicians should closely monitor patients and fully inform them and their families of the risks and benefits of treatment with antidepressants.     

上海市中小学生自杀行为及心理社会相关因素的研究

目的 了解上海市中小学生自杀行为的现状，探索自杀行为的相关危险因素。方法 采用分级整群随机抽样方法，选取上海市9所学校：小学5年级、预备初中（预初）、初一、初二、高一和高二年级学生进行匿名自评问卷调查。问卷包括一般情况问卷、流行病学调查中心用抑郁量表、焦虑自评量表、青少年生活事件量表和贝克绝望量表，根据美国疾病控制预防中心（CDC）青少年危险行为调查所采用的方式设置最近12个月的自杀意念、自杀计划和自杀未遂行为调查。自杀行为的年级和性别差异用卡方检验，自杀意念的相关因素分析采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归模型。结果 ①发放问卷2 513份，当场收回有效问卷2 416份，其中男1 190份，女1 226份；调查人群年龄10~17岁；②调查人群中有自杀意念者368名（15.23%，368/2 416），有自杀计划者141名（5.84%，141/2 416），自杀未遂者42名（1.74%，42/2 416）；③自杀行为的性别差异：男生有自杀意念者178名（14.96%,178/1 190），有自杀计划者80名(6.72%，80/1 190)，自杀未遂者24名(2.02%，24/1 190)；女生有自杀意念者190名（15.50%，190/1 226），自杀计划者61名(4.98%，61/1 226)，自杀未遂者18名(1.47%，18/1 226)。男、女生自杀行为差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）；④自杀意念的发生随年级上升而升高（P<0.05）。调查显示高二年级学生自杀未遂的发生率最高（5.17%，6/116）,其次为预初年级（2.52%，13/516）, 小学5年级最低（0.86%，3/347）（P<0.05）。自杀计划的发生率各年级间差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）；⑤小学生自杀意念与所在学校、家庭住房条件显著相关；初中生的自杀意念与同伴关系、父亲文化水平和母子沟通显著相关；高中生的自杀意念与学习成绩、自由支配空余时间和父子沟通显著相关。所有年级学生的自杀意念均与青少年生活事件量表、抑郁量表、焦虑自评量表和贝克绝望量表分呈显著相关。结论 ①上海市中小学生自杀行为状况不容乐观，必须引起高度重视；②不同学习阶段学生的自杀行为影响因素有所不同，干预措施应有所侧重；③应及时发现和积极治疗情绪障碍，努力培养青少年应对不良生活事件的能力，以降低自杀行为发生。     

Characteristics of suicide among children and adolescents in Budapest

BACKGROUND: In Europe, the suicide rate among children and adolescents is the highest in Hungary. In the young age group (10-14 and 15-19 years), the suicide mortality rate had not showed a decrease. METHODS: This study examined suicide cases committed by children and adolescents highlighted from the extraordinary death cases in Budapest between 1994 and 1998. The 72 suicide cases, which included 59 males and 13 females, were processed by sex, age, method and time of commitment, and distribution by districts. RESULTS: Leaping off high places or hanging was the highest frequency among the methods of commitment. Accurate data about the frequency, type, time and location of death cases are indispensable to decrease the number of children's and adolescents' suicides. CONCLUSIONS: Studies of epidemiology and risk factors may provide a basis of development of a specific suicide prevention programme including educational, health and welfare elements.     

Early adolescent smoking and a web of personal and social disadvantage

OBJECTIVE: To examine concurrent physical, educational, behavioural, social and family factors associated with cigarette smoking in adolescents at 14 years. METHODOLOGY: This study reports cross-sectional data on 14-year-old adolescents and their mothers, drawn from a prospective cohort study commencing at the time of the first antenatal visit. At 14 years, 5247 adolescents completed questionnaires on current cigarette smoking. Adolescents and mothers completed health, psychological, school and social questionnaires relating to the youth. A total of 3864 adolescents were assessed physically, and undertook the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) and Ravens Progressive Matrices Test. RESULTS: Cigarette smoking at 14 years was associated with externalizing and internalizing behaviour problems, school suspension, contact with children's services and alcohol/illicit drug use. Apart from internalizing behaviour problems, these problems were more prevalent in boys. Poor school performance on maternal/adolescent reports was associated with increased smoking quantity for both genders, though WRAT scores were only decreased in male smokers. The Ravens Progressive Matrices Test scores were lower for boys with greater smoking quantity. The trend was less marked in girls. Body mass index and exercise frequency were not associated with cigarette smoking at 14 years, though girls who smoked had a higher reported prevalence of asthma. Parental smoking, marital conflict, maternal depression, lower income, and mothers aged in their teens and with a lower level of education at the time of this pregnancy were also positively associated with adolescent tobacco use. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study indicate that cigarette smoking, at this critical time of smoking initiation, is associated with a broad spectrum of personal and social disadvantage that needs to be considered in intervention strategies.     

Activity,inactivity and quality of life among Lebanese adolescents

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate recent overweight and obesity prevalence rates for Lebanese adolescents, and to examine differences in physical activity, screen time (sum of time spent in front of TV, computer, and videogames), and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) for the first time among normal, overweight, and obese adolescents. Methods: One thousand Lebanese adolescents (14–18 years old) from nine schools participated in the study. Height, weight, physical activity, screen time, and HRQOL variables were assessed using validated self‐report questionnaires. Results: A total of 7.8% of boys and 1.75% of girls were obese, and 22.5% of boys and 12.47% of girls were overweight. Normal‐weight boys reported higher physical activity scores at health clubs than obese boys. Normal‐weight girls reported higher leisure time and total physical activity scores than obese girls. In the normal‐weight group, boys reported higher total screen time than girls. Normal‐weight boys reported higher physical functioning scores than their obese peers. Normal‐weight girls reported higher physical functioning and average HRQOL scores than obese girls. Normal‐weight and overweight boys reported higher average HRQOL scores than girls. Conclusion: The present study is the first to provide data on physical activity, screen time, and HRQOL among Lebanese adolescents. Despite the need for further research, all those concerned with the pediatric population are urged to develop and implement effective strategies to increase physical activity and improve HRQOL among adolescents based on the present findings.     

Specificity of putative psychosocial risk factors for psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents

BACKGROUND: Most psychosocial risk factors appear to have general rather than specific patterns of association with common childhood and adolescence disorders. However, previous research has typically failed to 1) control for comorbidity among disorders, 2) include a wide range of risk factors, and 3) examine sex by developmental stage effects on risk factor-disorder associations. This study tests the specificity of putative psychosocial risk factors while addressing these criticisms. METHODS: Eight waves of data from the Great Smoky Mountains Study (N = 1,420) were used, covering children in the community age 9-16 years old. Youth and one parent were interviewed up to seven times using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment, providing a total of 6,674 pairs of interviews. A wide range of putative neighborhood, school, peer, family, and child risk factors, and common and comorbid youth disorders were assessed. RESULTS: The majority of putative risk factors were specific to one disorder or one disorder domain. A unique or 'signature set' of putative risk factors was identified for each disorder. Several putative risk factors were associated with a disorder in preadolescent males, preadolescent females, adolescent males, or adolescent females only. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the need to define risk factors and disorders narrowly, to control comorbidity and other risk factors, and to consider developmental patterns of specificity by sex.