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Anxiety disorders, comorbidity, and suicide attempts in adolescence: a preliminary investigation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

C Pawlak ,
T Pascual-Sanchez ,
P Raë ,
W Fischer  and
F Ladame
C Pawlak
Affiliation:
Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Service Médico-PédagogiqueGeneva
T Pascual-Sanchez
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
P Raë
Affiliation:
Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Service Médico-PédagogiqueGeneva
W Fischer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
F Ladame
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Summary

The prevalence of anxiety disorders and associated DSM-III-R diagnoses were measured in a sample of 80 female adolescents aged between 15 to 20 years consulting an outpatient psychiatric service for adolescents. The suicide attempt group (SA) included 40 patients evaluated within 24 h after attempted suicide. This is compared to 40 consecutive patients consulting the same center but without any history of suicide attempt (the no attempt group, NA).

The global prevalence of anxiety disorders was similar in both groups (SA: 65% vs. NA: 60%, NS) as was the relative importance of the different disorders in each group, generalized anxiety being the most frequent specific anxiety disorder. The most striking difference between the two groups was in the prevalence of affective disorders in 90% (SA) vs. 32.5% (NA) (P < 0.001), leading to high rates of comorbidity on axis I in the SA group. Of the 24 patients with anxiety disorders who attempted suicide, 21 (95%) fulfilled criteria for associated major depression, compared to five out of 21 (24%) patients with anxiety disorders who had not attempted suicide.

Adolescents with anxiety disorders developing major depression are at a high risk for suicide. The depression may be of short duration (less than two weeks) when compared to that of the anxiety disorder (greater than six months). To improve suicide prevention, our findings if confirmed should encourage clinicians to perform a close follow-up of adolescents with anxiety disorders for an early detection of sudden depressive breakdowns.

Keywords

adolescentsaffective disordersanxiety disorderscomorbiditysuicide attempt
Type
Original Articles
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , June 1999 , pp. 132 - 136
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 1999

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