Predicting suicide in adolescence: Mood disorders, personality pathology and narcissistic functioning

Predicting suicide in adolescence: Mood disorders, personality pathology and narcissistic functioning Riccardo Williams (Dynamic & Clinical Psychology, Rome, Italy) M. P. Casini, G. Serra, C. Frattini, S. Vicari, E. Ronningstam Objective This study has 4 objectives: a) To verify whether the mood disorders/traits have a differential predictive role with respect to three clinical groups of adolescents: Suicidal Ideation, NSSI with suicidal ideation, Suicidal attempts. b) To verify whether the categorical and dimensional traits of personality pathology have a differential predictive role with respect to three clinical groups of adolescents: Suicidal Ideation, NSSI with suicidal ideation, Suicidal attempts. c) To verify whether the dinensions of pathological narcissism have a differential predictive role with respect to three clinical groups of adolescents: Suicidal Ideation, NSSI with suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts. d) To verify whether mood conditions, personality pathology, narcissistic functioning discriminate between the motivations sustaining sucidal ideations and behaviors. Methods Sample A sample of 40 adolescents referred at the Adolescent Psychiatric In-Patient and Mood Disorders Units of the Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù of Rome have been recruited with the method of subsequent admissions. Adolescents presenting a QI below 90, a generalized developmental disorder have been excluded from the study. Instruments a) Assessment of suicidal ideation and conducts: - Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS): - The Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory (DSHI); b) Assessment of the presence of categorical and dimensional symptoms of mood disorders (and other relevant psychopathological conditions): - Kiddie-SADS PL: clinician’s assessment of diagnosis for Axis I Disorders - Kiddie SADS Mania Rating Scale (K-SADS-MRS): - Child Depression Rating Scale Revised (CDRS-R): c) Categorical and dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology - SCID II (DSM5-version): questionnaire and interview for personality disorders diagnosis (both categorical and dimensional- number of symptoms measures will be considered). - Diagnostic Interview for Narcissism (DIN) Results Borderline Personality Disorder presents a significant association with suicidal attempts. The narcissistic dimension presented significant associations with suicidal ideation and conducts. Conclusion In order to predict suicidal conducts in adolescence, several factors should be taken into consideration with a specific role to be attributed to narcissistic functioning typical of this developmental stage