Retrospective electronic medical record study of 10--17 year olds with suicide attempts or suicidal ideation

The purpose of this retrospective quantitative study was to identify the variables associated with suicide attempts and suicidal ideation requiring medical treatment among adolescents aged 10-17 living within the geographical confines of one county located in the Pacific Northwest. This population was chosen due to increasing rates of suicide attempts that were not associated with a corresponding increase in the county population. Adolescents ages 10-17 (N=328) who presented to hospital emergency departments for medical care related to a suicide attempt or suicidal ideation based on ICD-9 coding associated with external causes of self-injury, poisoning, or suicidal ideation during the time period January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005 became the convenience sample for the study. Depressive disorder was diagnosed in 34.45% of the population. Poisoning by ingestion of analgesics, antipyretics, or antirheumatics was associated with 39.02% of the sample. Other findings included a decrease in prescriptions for oral antidepressants following the "black box warning" issued by the Federal Food and Drug Administration in October of 2004; the usage of tobacco and illegal substances were positively associated with an increased risk for a suicide attempt rather than suicidal ideation; presentation for treatment occurred most frequently on Monday or Thursday with May as the most frequent month for treatment. Suicidal ideation without any evidence of self-harm or self-injury comprised 12.8% of sample; 90.27% of the population had one or more psychiatric diagnoses when including substance related psychiatric disorders. Due to the size of the convenience sample, it is unclear if the study findings may be applicable to other adolescent populations. Although no clear, specific, single profile emerged from the study as an adolescent at risk for attempted suicide or suicidal ideation; it was clear that the rate of young adolescents ages 10-14 who attempt suicide or experience suicidal ideation is increasing. This finding warrants prevention efforts and ongoing research among these vulnerable adolescents in addition to the older adolescent 15-17.