The role of psychopathology in the relationship between history of maltreatment and suicide attempts among children and adolescent inpatients.

BACKGROUND

This retrospective chart review study investigates the relationship between the history of various forms of abuse and the presence of mood disorders and psychotic symptoms in predicting suicide attempts among psychiatrically hospitalized children and adolescents.

METHOD: A multi-mediation analysis was conducted with an archival dataset of 101 children and adolescents hospitalized predominantly for mood disorders and bipolar disorders with and without history of psychotic symptoms.

RESULTS

Results showed that history of suicide attempts was directly associated with physical abuse and indirectly associated with sexual abuse (mediated by bipolar disorders). Emotional abuse was also indirectly related to history of suicide attempts, mediated by mood disorders for boys, and by psychotic symptoms for girls.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is among the first to differentiate the unique effects of different types of early maltreatment on psychopathology, particularly mood disorders and psychotic symptoms, and histories of suicide attempts in psychiatrically hospitalized children and youth.

KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE: Little is known about the relationships between histories of maltreatment, psychopathology, and suicide (considered simultaneously) among hospitalized children and adolescents. Different forms of abuse are associated with distinct psychopathology symptoms, and in turn, risk for suicide attempts. Only physical abuse is directly related to a history of suicide attempts, while sexual and emotional abuse are indirectly related (mediated by mood disorders and psychotic symptoms). These risk pathways are partly distinct for girls and boys. Identifying unique and cumulated risk factors can help prevent suicidality among hospitalized youth.