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

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.