Citation

Petrović A, Marusic A. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 39.

Affiliation

Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, Trubarjeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. ana.petrovic@ivz-rs.si.

Copyright

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

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963901

Abstract

Aims: To perform a feasibility study for our planned research of twin concordance for suicidal ideation among adolescents. Method: Relevance of the planned study was examined through the review of similar studies in this field. Adequacy of selected population and research procedures was tested on a pilot sample of 29 adolescents. Results of the review and our pilot study provided the following results: - Twin studies offer an adequate basis for suicide heritability investigation. - Questionnaires and other tests need to be selected on the basis of age distribution; reliability of adolescent's responding needs to be considered. - The prevalence of suicidal ideation can vary extensively. - Suicide risk factors should cover the following areas: depression, conduct and emotional disorders, life events and traumatic experiences, impulsiveness, coping styles and family characteristics. - Our pilot study shows proneness to depression in approximately 31% of adolescents and almost 60% considered suicide at least once in their life. Conclusions: Minor inventory modifications will be needed, especially in reliably measuring the prevalence of suicide ideation and suicide risk factors. Considering twin studies limitations, methodological issues and specificity of early adolescence, suicide investigation in Slovene adolescents will benefit from findings of our planned study.

Language: en