Citation

Christoffersen MN. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 40.

Affiliation

The Danish National Institute of Social Research, The Danish National Institute of Social Research, Herluf Trollesgade 11, DK-1052 Copenhagen, Denmark. mc@sfi.dk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963903

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to study the association between psychological maltreatment and youth suicide attempts or suicide contemplation. Are children exposed to psychological maltreatment experiencing an increased risk for suicide attempts or contemplation? Will childrens' suicidal behaviour diminish when psychological maltreatment is reduced? Cases of 1,055 children were analyzed selected from a nationwide register of children at risk as defined by the Social Assistance Act. Seven percent (76 adolescents) had contemplated suicide or attempted suicide. Suicidal behavior as well as child abuse and neglect were analyzed on the basis of standardized questionnaires addressed to their caseworkers. The questionnaires were filled in on the basis of the files and the caseworkers' knowledge of the children and their families covering the period back to 2001. More than one third of the children were exposed to psychological maltreatment. The exposed children showed more frequent suicidal tendencies, compared to those children who were not exposed to psychological maltreatment. Only 51 cases were both showing suicidal behavior and exposed to psychological maltreatment. If the parental behavior improved, effects on their children's well-being were also observed and a positive change of the children's suicidal behaviors was observed according to the caseworkers' registrations.

Language: en