Citation

Radeloff D, Lempp T, Albowitz M, Oddo S, Toennes SW, Schmidt PH, Freitag CM, Kettner M. Z. Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother. 2012; 40(4): 263-269.

Vernacular Title

Suizide im Kindes- und Jugendalter.

Affiliation

Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Verlag Hans Huber)

DOI

10.1024/1422-4917/a000179

PMID

22707123

Abstract

Objective: Updated and regional data about the circumstances of death and the psychosocial backgrounds of suicides can be helpful for improving suicide-preventive strategies in childhood and adolescence. Method: All known cases of completed suicide in the period from 1996 to 2008 in persons ≤ 21 years of age from the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Frankfurt/Main were analysed in a retrospective study. We included 78 cases and matched them with a comparative sample of 1,797 adult suicides of persons > 21 years of age. Results: Within the chosen period there was a 44 % decrease in incidence of suicide in the group of ≤ 21-year-olds. The fraction of incarcerated persons in this group was 8.0 % compared to 2.56 % in the adult group. Differences from suicide in adulthood were also demonstrated in terms of suicide-related substance abuse (less detection of alcohol, more frequent detection of illicit drugs) and choice of methods (more deaths by being hit by a train). Conclusions: Incarcerated adolescents are an important risk group for suicidal tendency and need increased, well-directed preventive measures. Clinical adolescent psychiatry should pay special attention to the indications in this study of an age-dependent association of drug use in suicide.

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