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Self-mutilation and suicidal behaviour in children and adolescents: prevalence and psychosocial correlates: results of the BELLA study

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of suicidal behaviour in a representative sample of children and adolescents in Germany.

Methods

Suicidal behaviour was assessed in the BELLA study in a sample of 2,863 families with children aged 7–17 using the corresponding questions from the child behavior check list and the youth self report. Self-reported as well as parent-reported measures of overall mental health problems, anxiety, depression, aggressive and delinquent behaviour, attention deficit-/hyperactivity as well as health-related quality of life were also administered.

Results

Self-mutilation and/or suicidal attempts within the last six months were reported by 2.9% of the adolescents 11–17 years of age. Suicidal thoughts were reported by 3.8% of the same group of adolescents. The prevalence rates reported by the parents were 1.4% for self-mutilation and/or suicidal attempts and 2.2% for suicidal thoughts. The prevalence of parent-reported self-mutilation/suicidal attempts in children below 11 years of age was very low. Youth reporting suicidal behaviour were older than youth not reporting suicidal behaviour. Children and adolescents exhibiting suicidal behaviour reported significantly more general mental health problems, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and hyperactivity as well as lower health-related quality of life.

Conclusions

There is a strong connection between suicidal behaviour and emotional and behavioural problems, especially with symptoms of depression, anxiety and hyperactivity. The association observed between attention deficit-/hyperactivity and suicidal behaviour requires further investigation. The differences in the extent of reported suicidal behaviour in adolescents between the self- and parent-ratings and the degree of confidentiality in the collection of the data are subjects for future research.

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Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Blumenstraße 8, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany

    Franz Resch

  2. Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Peter Parzer & Romuald Brunner

Authors
  1. Franz Resch
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  2. Peter Parzer
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  3. Romuald Brunner
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the BELLA study group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Franz Resch.

Additional information

Members of the BELLA study group: Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer (Principal Investigator), Claus Barkmann, Susanne Bettge, Monika Bullinger, Manfred Döpfner, Michael Erhart, Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann, Heike Hölling, Franz Resch, Aribert Rothenberger, Michael Schulte-Markwort, Nora Wille, Hans-Ulrich Wittchen.

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Resch, F., Parzer, P., Brunner, R. et al. Self-mutilation and suicidal behaviour in children and adolescents: prevalence and psychosocial correlates: results of the BELLA study. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 17 (Suppl 1), 92–98 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-008-1010-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-008-1010-3

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