Suicidal Ideation and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Following Early Childhood Psychotic Experiences in Preadolescent Children at Familial High Risk of Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder-The Danish High Risk and Resilience Study, VIA 11

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Maja Gregersen
  • Jens Richardt Møllegaard Jepsen
  • Julie Marie Brandt
  • Anne Sondergaard
  • Sinnika Birkehoj Rohd
  • Lotte Veddum
  • Christina Bruun Knudsen
  • Anna Krogh Andreassen
  • Birgitte Klee Burton
  • Hjorthøj, Carsten
  • Mette Falkenberg Krantz
  • Aja Neergaard Greve
  • Vibeke Bliksted
  • Ole Mors
  • Nordentoft, Merete
  • Thorup, Anne Amalie Elgaard
  • Nicoline Hemager

Background and Hypothesis Suicide is a leading cause of death in youth and is often preceded by suicidal ideation (SI) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Identifying early markers of risk for SI and NSSI could improve timely identification of at-risk individuals. Study Design Children (mean age 11.9, SD 0.2) at familial high risk of schizophrenia (N = 171), or bipolar disorder (N = 104), and controls (N = 174) were assessed for psychotic experiences (PE), SI, NSSI, and Axis I mental disorders in face-to-face interviews in early and middle childhood (age 7 and 11). Study Results Having 2 types of early childhood PE predicted middle childhood SI after accounting for previous SI, NSSI, and mental disorders (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-6.9; P = .03). Two PE predicted NSSI (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.2-7.7; P = .02) in excess of previous SI, NSSI, mental disorders, and familial risk. Persistent and incident PE predicted SI (OR 3.2, 95% CI, 1.1-8.8; P = .03; OR 3.8, 95% CI, 1.3-11.5; P = .02) in the fully adjusted model. Nineteen percent of children with persistent PE reported middle childhood SI vs 3.8% of those who never reported PE. In children with early childhood mental disorders, those who reported 2 PE had 4.4-fold increased odds of later SI (95% CI, 1.2-16.7; P = .03) after adjustments. PE were nondifferentially associated with outcomes across familial risk groups. Conclusions Early childhood PE index elevated risk for subsequent SI and NSSI beyond what can be attributed to presence of mental disorders. Mental health screenings and clinical assessments should include early childhood PE.

Original languageEnglish
JournalSchizophrenia Bulletin
Volume49
Issue number6
Pages (from-to) 1602–1613
Number of pages12
ISSN0586-7614
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

    Research areas

  • Childhood, adolescence, subclinical psychosis, suicide risk behaviors, CROSS-NATIONAL ANALYSIS, 7-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN, PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS, PROTECTIVE FACTORS, META-REGRESSION, METAANALYSIS, SYMPTOMS, PREVALENCE, BEHAVIORS, THOUGHTS

ID: 347001666