Adolescents with Intellectual Disability and Suicidal Behavior

Merrick, Joav; Merrick, Efrat; Morad, Mohammed; Kandel, Isack

doi:10.1100/tsw.2005.90

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Studies have identified slightly higher IQ, co-morbid psychiatric disorders and recent psychosocial stressors as correlates of suicide risk in the ID population. Previous studies and reviews have suggested healthcare providers routinely assess for suicide risk and depression in youth with ID; 32,37 however, standardized evaluation of suicidal thoughts and behaviors is challenged by the lack of appropriate measures.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of those, 175 (93%) were excluded because they focused on adults, did not specifically address SI/SB in youth with ID or focused on self-injury without intent to die. Therefore, 13 articles were identified that describe suicidal ideation and behavior in children and adolescents with ID: one comprehensive literature review, 32 three prospective studies, three chart reviews and six published case reports. For a summary of key findings from the prospective studies, chart reviews and case reports, see Tables 1, 2 and 3, respectively.…”

Section: Literature Search Strategymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Suicide Risk in Youth with Intellectual Disabilities

Ludi¹,

Ballard²,

Greenbaum³

et al. 2012

Journal of Developmental &Amp; Behavioral Pediatrics

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Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID), often diagnosed with co-morbid psychiatric disorders, are a vulnerable population who may be at risk for developing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Previous research has demonstrated that direct suicide screening can rapidly and effectively detect suicide risk and facilitate further clinical evaluation and management. Currently, there are no measures that screen for suicide risk designed specifically for individuals with ID. A review of the literature was conducted: 1) to estimate the prevalence of suicidal thoughts, behaviors and deaths by suicide in children and adolescents with ID; 2) to describe associations between youth with ID and suicide risk; 3) to identify the limitations of commonly used suicide screening measures developed for non-ID youth. The literature review confirms that suicide risk exists in this population; youth with ID think about, attempt and die by suicide. Standardized suicide risk screening is challenged by the lack of measures developed for this population. A summary of the findings is followed by a discussion of the practical clinical considerations surrounding the assessment of suicide risk in youth with ID.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Search Strategymentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicide Risk in Youth with Intellectual Disabilities

Ludi¹,

Ballard²,

Greenbaum³

et al. 2012

Journal of Developmental &Amp; Behavioral Pediatrics

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“…The first is the loose assumption, often made in the reporting and presentation of suicide data, that suicide rates may be similar for all those aged between 15 and 25. Some countries show a higher suicide rate for the late adolescence (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25) than the mid adolescence (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), e.g., see Shek et al [41]. The age category 15-25 is much more heterogeneous than 15-20 and 20-25, i.e., individuals aged 15 and 20 years may behave very differently to individuals aged 21 and 24, respectively.…”

Section: Trends In Adolescent Suicidementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Viewed as an illness of the mind, suicide research has, over and above depression, followed many directions, such as a link with fatty acids [16,17], eating disorders and anorexia nervosa [18,19], persons with intellectual disability [20,21], cannabis and alcohol misuse [22,23,24,25], allergy symptoms [26], and clinical settings [24,27]; also see Shahtahmasebi [5] for more categories. Pharmacological treatment of mental illness, depression, and suicidal behaviour on its own may be controversial [28]; others suggest holistic medicine as a more effective treatment [29,30,31,32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicide Research and Adolescent Suicide Trends in New Zealand

Shahtahmasebi¹

2008

The Scientific World JOURNAL

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In recent years, there have been a number of claims and counterclaims from suicide research using time series and longitudinal data; in particular, the linkage of increased antidepressant prescriptions to a decrease in suicide rates. Suicide time series appear to have a memory compounded with seasonal and cyclic effects. Failure to take into account these properties may lead to misleading conclusions, e.g., a downward blip is interpreted as the result of current knowledge and public health policies, while an upward blip is explained as suicide being complex depending on many variables requiring further research. In previous publications, I argued that this misuse of time series data is the result of an uncritical acceptance of a medical model that links mental ill-health to suicide. The consequences of such research behaviour are further increases in antidepressant prescriptions and medications to those who should not be prescribed them, with adverse effects showing across the population, e.g., the prescription of antidepressants to very young children (some under 1 year of age) in New Zealand. Moreover, the New Zealand Evidence-based Health Care Bulletin recommends an authoritarian approach for every interaction with a young person to check their psychosocial well-being. When viewed holistically, this kind of human behaviour makes researchers, policy makers (politicians), treatment, and practitioners, and society in general part of the problem rather than the solution. This paper explores some dynamic aspects of suicide, using only official data with particular reference to youth suicide, and suggests that the medical model of suicide is only an attempt to treat depression without addressing suicide, and recommends the creation of a unified database through understanding the society that individuals live in. It is hoped that this paper will stimulate debate and the collaboration of international experts regardless of their school of thought.

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“…As recently as the 1980s it was widely believed that individuals with intellectual disability (ID) did not have the cognitive capacity to experience mental health problems (Smiley, 2005) and that cognitive impairment acted as a "buffer" against suicidal behaviour (Walters, et al, 1995;Merrick et al, 2005Merrick et al, , 2006. This review examines the evidence relating to suicide risk factors for individuals with ID.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

A review of risk factors associated with suicide in adults with intellectual disability

Mollison

Chaplin

Underwood

et al. 2014

Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities

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Purpose -Suicide is one of the top three leading causes of death amongst those aged between 15 and 44 years; and tenth leading cause of death in the wider population. The base rates of suicide, suicide attempts and suicide-related behaviours are comparably low in the general population with between 17 and 68 per cent of individuals who successfully commit suicide having made a previous attempt to take their own life. As recently as the 1980's it was still a widely held belief that individuals with intellectual disability (ID) did not have the cognitive capacity to experience mental health problems and this acted as a "buffer" against suicidal behaviour. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach -The literature review covered the time period 1993-2013 and returned 117 studies, 77 of which related to individuals with ID, 37 of which related to adults. Following screening titles and abstracts 28 articles were removed. A total of nine studies were found to be eligible for inclusion in the review. A further two studies examining suicide in adolescents (up to adulthood) with ID were also considered. From the eligible studies the following information was considered: study design, sample size, strengths, limitations and the risk factors associated with an increased risk of suicide. Findings -The suicide risk factors identified during the review were found to be in keeping with the general population and included a diagnosis of clinical depression, history of self-harm, unemployment, loneliness, unemployment, an increased need for support from others, early onset mental illness and being treatment resistive. Originality/value -Suicide in individuals with ID is a topic that has not received a great deal of attention from professionals and clinicians alike. People with ID have higher rates of mental health problems and therefore it could be argued that they are more likely to be at risk. This study aims to look at risk factors specific to people with ID for clinicians to consider in their daily practice.

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Adolescents with Intellectual Disability and Suicidal Behavior

Cited by 10 publications

References 14 publications

Suicide Risk in Youth with Intellectual Disabilities

Suicide Risk in Youth with Intellectual Disabilities

Suicide Research and Adolescent Suicide Trends in New Zealand

A review of risk factors associated with suicide in adults with intellectual disability

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