Citation

Aglan A, Kerfoot M, Pickles A, Harrington R. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl): 50.

Affiliation

Practice Development Unit, Division of Psychiatry, Simon Building, Brunswick Street, M13 9PL Manchester, UK. (azza.aglan@manchester.ac.uk)

Copyright

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

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963925

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the early adult psychosocial outcomes of adolescents who deliberately poisoned themselves. To identify the main social and clinical factors associated with adverse outcomes following adolescent DSP. To explore pathways linking childhood risk factors to adverse outcomes. Methods: Prospective cohort study with a six year follow-up of 126/158 adolescents who had taken part in a randomised trial of a family intervention following DSP. Comparisons were made with matched controls. Both groups were assesses using standardised measures of psychopathology and social functioning. Results: Adolescents who deliberately poisoned themselves were at a substantially increased risk for a broad range of psychopathological outcomes in young adulthood including much higher rates of deliberate self-harm and comorbid psychiatric disorders. DSH in adult life (37/126 or 29%) was entirely restricted to those experiencing psychiatric disorders. Three pathways were identified linking childhood risk factors to adverse outcomes. There was a strong association between childhood sexual abuse and persistent major depression in young adulthood. Adult adversity also added to the risk especially for those who came from dysfunctional family backgrounds. Childhood major depression significantly contributed to the risk of persistent MD and multiple psychiatric disorders. Conclusions: Multi-targeted interventions are needed to reduce the risk of psychopathology and associated DSH repetition.

Language: en