Citation

Mirkovic B, Labelle R, Guile JM, Belloncle V, Bodeau N, Knafo A, Condat A, Bapt-Cazalets N, Marguet C, Breton JJ, Cohen D, Gerardin P. Can. J. Psychiatry 2015; 60(2 Suppl 1): S37-45.

Affiliation

Professor and Department Head, Département de pédiatrie médicale, Fédération hospitalo-universitaire de psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rouen et Centre hospitalier du Rouvray), Rouen et Rouvray, France; Researcher, Laboratoire Psy-NCA-EA-4700, Université de Rouen, Rouen, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Canadian Psychiatric Association, Publisher SAGE Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

25886670

PMCID

PMC4345847

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: A multisite study was undertaken to advance our understanding of how coping skills, depression, and suicidal ideation are related among adolescents who attempt suicide. Two hypotheses were postulated: productive coping and nonproductive coping would be associated, respectively, with lower and higher depression scores when age, sex, and stressful life events (SLEs) were controlled; and productive coping and nonproductive coping would be associated, respectively, with the presence and absence of suicidal ideation when age, sex, and SLEs were controlled.

METHODS: Participants were 167 adolescents (13 to 17 years of age) hospitalized for attempting suicide in 5 pediatric departments across France. Four instruments were administered: the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version, the Adolescent Coping Scale, the Life Events Questionnaire, and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Descriptive analyses and univariate and multiple regression models were completed.

RESULTS: Both hypotheses were confirmed. Focus on the positive emerged as a significant variable in both models; depression emerged as a significant variable in the suicidal ideation model. The only sex difference observed was that girls made greater use of wishful thinking and seek social support.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that coping skills are important mechanisms through which depression and suicidal ideation are maintained after attempting suicide. In intervening with adolescents who have attempted suicide, it may be useful to emphasize cognitive work geared to looking on the bright side, positive thinking, and fighting depression.

Language: en