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Cited by 109Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentHomicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse

Correlates and Consequences of Suicidal Cognitions and Behaviors in Children Ages 3 to 7 Years

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Whalen, Diana J., Dixon-Gordon, Katherine, Belden, Andrew C., Barch, Deanna, Luby, Joan L.·2015·Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
DOI 10.1016/j.jaac.2015.08.009PMC PMC4677777
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Abstract

Objective Despite research documenting the existence of depression and other psychiatric disorders in early childhood, little is known about the nature and consequences of suicidal cognitions and behaviors (SI) in young children ages 3 to 7 years. The identification of trajectories of SI across childhood is a critical step toward preventing childhood suicide.Method Participants were 306 children enrolled in a prospective longitudinal investigation of young children and their families. Children and their families completed a baseline assessment between ages 3 and 7 years, and at least 1 follow-up assessment (ages 7-12 years). Child psychopathology, suicidal thoughts, plans, and behaviors were assessed via parent and trained interviewer report before age 9, and also with self-report after age 9. Data on maternal history of psychopathology, as well as maternal and family history of suicide attempts, were also obtained through parent report.Results Controlling for a range of clinical and demographic variables, early-childhood SI (as defined as suicidal thoughts, behavior, or any expression of plans/attempts occurring before age 7) and suicidal themes in play were concurrently associated with childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) and oppositional defiant/conduct disorders (ODD/CD). Early-childhood SI also predicted school-age depression and ODD/CD; however, these findings were no longer significant after controlling for the same diagnoses at the childhood baseline. Longitudinal analysis indicated that early-childhood SI was a robust predictor of school-age SI, even after accounting for psychiatric disorders at both time points.Conclusion Extending current research, these findings demonstrate that early-childhood SI confers significant risk for continuation into school-age SI and is concurrently associated with ADHD and ODD/CD. Although the meaning of early-childhood SI remains unclear, results suggest that it is a clinically important phenomenon that should be carefully assessed and taken seriously as a marker of risk for ongoing suicidal ideation/behavior. These findings suggest that early screening for SI in childhood is indicated in clinical settings, particularly in children less than 7 years of age with depression and externalizing disorders.

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Authors
Whalen, D. J., Dixon-Gordon, K., Belden, A. C., Barch, D., & Luby, J. L.
Affiliations
Washington University in St. Louis (US)
Corresponding author
Whalen, Diana J.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-11
Volume
54
Issue
11
Pages
926-937.e2
ISSN
0890-8567 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jaac.2015.08.009
PMC
PMC4677777
OpenAlex
W1944040555
Cited by
109
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 2
FWCI
8.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Amgen
  • Pfizer
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH064769, L30 MH108015, R01MH090786, T32MH100019)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
Keywords
suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, early childhood, suicidal cognitions, childhood depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, externalizing disorders, suicide attempts, maternal psychopathology, suicide prevention, risk trajectories, early screening
MeSH terms
Behavior Rating Scale, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Child Behavior, Child, Preschool, Cognition, Depression, Family, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Prospective Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Risk Factors, Suicide, Attempted, Washington, Logistic Models, Conduct Disorder, Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders, Self Report

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