Psychopathology, temperament and suicide risk in adolescence: The role of early traumatic experience

Introduction Previous researches showed that adolescents are at high risk of suicide. Suicide is a trans-nosographic phenomenon regardless of psychiatric diagnosis. Trauma is an important risk factor for suicide and young help-seeking patients usually refer traumatic experiences, especially during childhood. Objectives The objective of this study is to assess the relationship between traumatic experience and suicide risk comparing adoles- cents with suicide risk with adolescents without suicide risk. Aims To investigate correlations between trauma, psychopathol- ogy and suicide risk in a sample of young help-seeking outpatients. Methods We recruited 99 outpatients aged between 14 and 21 years admitted to department for prevention and early intervention in adolescence of Rome. We administered psychometric instru- ments exploring suicide risk (SHSS, BHS), prodromal (SIPS/SOPS), affective and anxious symptoms (HAM-A, HAM-D,MRS), child abuse (CTQ) and experiences of depersonalization (CDS). Results Sample is composed of 31 men and 68 women. A total of 34.3% had mood disorder. A total of 28.3% reported history of emotional neglect, 20.2% emotional abuse, 9.15 sexual abuse, 5.1% physical neglect, 9,1% sexual abuse, 4% physical abuse. More than 30% of patients were at increased suicide risk. Depressive, irritable, anxious and cyclothymic temperament was associated with sui- cide risk. Patients with suicide risk had higher score at HAM-D (t63 = 2.65; P = 0.01), CDS (t63 = 2.77; P = 0.007), in CTQ (t63 = 3.20; P = 0.002) and BHS (t63 = 3.23; P = 0.002). Conclusions Adolescents with suicide risk, compared with those without, reported more frequently early traumatic experiences and psychiatric symptoms. Early traumatic experiences constitute a risk factor for both suicide risk and psychiatric symptoms during adolescence.