Suicidal Attacks in Children and Adolescents

Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Suicidal Attacks in Children and Adolescents at Assiut University Children Hospital

Discuss suicidal behaviors among children and adolescents at Assiut university children hospital (AUCH) and Select the most common causes, risk factors, methods and circumstances surrounding suicidal attempts in children and adolescents at AUCH. Also, Estimate incidence of children and adolescents with suicidal attempts at AUCH.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Suicidal Attacks
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: suicide attacks

Detailed Description

Suicide is a major public health problem that affects people of all ages, including children and adolescents. A child's decision to commit suicide is influenced by many social and psychological factors, as well as mental illness and addiction. Suicide is defined as death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with an intent to die as a result of the behavior; suicide attempt is defined as a nonfatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior with an intent to die as a result of the behavior even if the behavior does not result in injury; and suicidal ideation is defined as thinking about, considering, or planning suicide.

Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide among 15-29 year-olds (WHO, 2021). Globally, lifetime prevalence rates are approximately 9.2% for suicidal ideation and 2.7% for suicide attempt.

The leading methods of suicide for the 15- to 19-year age group in 2013 were suffocation (43%), discharge of firearms (42%), poisoning (6%), and falling (3%). It is estimated that around 20% of global suicides are due to pesticide self-poisoning, most of which occur in rural agricultural areas in low- and middle-income countries. The availability of potentially lethal drugs may also increase the risk of suicide or at least increase the medical lethality of an attempt.

Although no specific tests are capable of identifying a suicidal person, specific risk factors exist. Some risk factors for suicide can be classified as being modifiable or non-modifiable. Modifiable risk factors are dynamic and may be influenced by treatment (eg. suicidal ideation, current stressors and poor physical health). Non-modifiable risk factors are static and do not change over time (eg. family history of suicide or suicide attempts, history of adoption, male gender, parental mental health problems, history of physical or sexual abuse, and a previous suicide attempt). Personal mental health problems that predispose to suicide include sleep disturbances, depression, substance use disorders, and pathologic Internet use. Social and environmental risk factors include bullying, impaired parent-child relationship, living outside of the home (homeless or in a corrections facility or group home), difficulties in school, social isolation, and presence of stressful life events. Youth seem to be at much greater risk from media exposure than adults and may imitate suicidal behavior seen on television. Media coverage of an adolescent's suicide may lead to cluster suicides, with the magnitude of additional deaths proportional to the amount, duration, and prominence of the media coverage.

The first step in treating a child after a suicide attempt is a control of the vital signs of the patient. The priority is to reverse the life-threatening condition, and then to treat the disease . Options for immediate evaluation include hospitalization, transfer to an emergency department, or a same-day appointment with a mental health professional. Adolescents with a responsive and supportive family, little likelihood of acting on suicidal impulses (e.g., thought of dying with no intent or plan for suicide), and someone who can take action if there is mood or behavior deterioration may require only outpatient treatment.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 15

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Amira Ramadan Abd El-Hafiz, M.B.B.CH; Phone Number: 01061000143; Email: ramadanamra100@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All children between the ages of 5-18 years, with at least history of one suicidal attempt . Children and adolescents committing suicide by gunshots and falling from height not incuded.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All children between the ages of 5-18 years, with at least history of one suicidal attempt.

Exclusion Criteria:

• • Adult population and don't include children and adolescents as participants. Children and adolescents committing suicide by gunshots and falling from height.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Epidemiology and Risk factors of suicidal attacks in children and adolescents	Select the most common causes, risk factors, methods and circumstances surrounding suicidal attempts in children and adolescents.Also, Estimate Percentage of children and adolescents with suicidal attempts at assiut university children hospital.	1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Assiut University
• Investigators: Study Director: Khalaf Abd El-Aal Sayed, Dr, Assiut University; Principal Investigator: Emad El-Deen Mohamoud, Dr, Assiut University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Bridge JA, Goldstein TR, Brent DA. Adolescent suicide and suicidal behavior. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2006 Mar-Apr;47(3-4):372-94. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01615.x.
• Klonsky ED, May AM, Saffer BY. Suicide, Suicide Attempts, and Suicidal Ideation. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2016;12:307-30. doi: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-021815-093204. Epub 2016 Jan 11.
• Berk MS. Editorial: Suicide prevention in youth. Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2022 Nov;27(4):325-327. doi: 10.1111/camh.12604.
• Ike K, Haginoya K, Suzuki Y, Yokoyama H, Iinuma K, Numazaki Y, Soga T, Tada K. A case of chronic mumps virus encephalitis manifesting intractable epileptic seizures. Jpn J Psychiatry Neurol. 1990 Jun;44(2):356-7. No abstract available.
• Gordon M, Melvin G. Risk assessment and initial management of suicidal adolescents. Aust Fam Physician. 2014 Jun;43(6):367-72.
• Chun TH, Katz ER, Duffy SJ, Gerson RS. Challenges of managing pediatric mental health crises in the emergency department. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2015 Jan;24(1):21-40. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2014.09.003. Epub 2014 Oct 3.

Helpful Links

• WHO (World Health Organ.). 2014. Preventing suicide: a global imperative.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): October 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2023
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 26, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 26, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 3, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 3, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 26, 2023
• Last Verified: September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: suicidal attacks in children

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No