Early Trajectories of Suicidality in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Retrospective Study from a Community Mental Health Facility in Northern Italy

TL;DR

This study examines suicide attempts in adolescents and young adults in Italy, finding that mental health disorders and age differences influence suicide risk.

Contribution

The study identifies distinct age patterns of suicide attempts across psychiatric diagnoses in a community mental health setting.

Findings

Patients with personality disorders attempted suicide at a younger age (average 18.70) compared to those with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (average 23.64).

The study emphasizes the importance of tailored clinical interventions based on specific psychopathological trajectories.

It highlights the need for preventive approaches to suicidality during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults. Those suffering from psychiatric illnesses are at particular risk. Our study, conducted at an outpatient mental health facility in Northern Italy, aimed at delineating demographic and psychopathological features of youths aged 16–29 who attempted suicide and were referred to our community-based outpatient service. Methods: We identified 63 subjects, most of whom suffered from personality disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Analysis of variance and post hoc pairwise comparisons were performed. Results: Inferential analysis yielded significant results in terms of age at index suicide attempt across diagnostic groups. Patients with personality disorders attempted suicide at a younger age (M = 18.70) compared to those with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (M = 23.64; η2 = 0.32). Conclusions: Our findings highlighted the period of transition from adolescence to adulthood as a stress on the need of preventive approaches towards suicidality in young people in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Moreover, the difference of age at index suicide attempt across different diagnostic groups stresses the need for tailored clinical interventions based on the specific psychopathological trajectories and natural histories of the diseases.

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