Suicidal thoughts and behaviors in psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents pre- and post- COVID-19: A historical chart review and examination of contextual correlates
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Psychiatrically vulnerable adolescents may be at heightened risk for suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study characterizes suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SA) in a sample of adolescents psychiatrically hospitalized during COVID-19. Rates of SI and SA are compared to a historical hospital sample from a matched period in the year prior. Associations between specific stressors and COVID-related SI are also explored. METHODS: This cross-sectional chart review utilizes hospital intake data, including self-reports of SA, SI (general and COVID-related), and COVID-specific stressors. RESULTS: SA and SI ratings were higher in the COVID-19 sample compared to the historical sample. Stressors related to missing special events, financial problems, in-home conflict, and changes in living circumstances were associated with COVID-related SI. Among first-time admissions, several interpersonal stressors were linked to COVID-related SI. LIMITATIONS: Analyses were cross-sectional, limiting our ability to draw conclusions about causality. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers preliminary evidence that COVID-19 may be contributing to suicidal thoughts and behaviors in high-risk adolescents.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the youth mental health crisis, intensifying urgency as hospitals respond to higher volumes of psychiatric emergencies.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the youth mental health crisis, intensifying urgency as hospitals respond to higher volumes of psychiatric emergencies.”
From Experiences of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Patients Boarding in the Emergency Department from Staff Perspectives: Patient Journey Mapping (2023) · cites this paper as Thompson et al., 2021
Rates of child and adolescent anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors have risen substantially over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Rates of child and adolescent anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors have risen substantially over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic (Kudinova et al., 2021; Power et al., 2020; Thompson et al., 2021).”
From Experiences of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Patients Boarding in the Emergency Department from Staff Perspectives: Patient Journey Mapping (2023) · cites this paper as Thompson et al., 2021
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and mental health for children and adolescents
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Wolff, J. C., Maron, M., Chou, T., Hood, E., Sodano, S., Cheek, S., Thompson, E., Donise, K., Katz, E., & Mannix, M. (2023) · Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research · doi:10.1007/s10488-022-01249-4 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Self-citationKudinova, A. Y., Bettis, A. H., Thompson, E. C., Thomas, S. A., Nesi, J., Erguder, L., MacPherson, H. A., Burke, T. A., & Wolff, J. C. (2022) · Child & Youth Care Forum · doi:10.1007/s10566-021-09641-1 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Thompson, E. C., Thomas, S. A., Burke, T. A., Nesi, J., MacPherson, H. A., Bettis, A. H., Kudinova, A. Y., Affleck, K., Hunt, J., & Wolff, J. C.
- Affiliations
- Brown University (US)
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Thompson, Elizabeth C.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-04
- Volume
- 4
- Pages
- 100100
- ISSN
- 2666-9153 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7845535
- OpenAlex
- W3127424185
- Cited by
- 66
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 14
- FWCI
- 10.57
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Keywords
- suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, adolescents, COVID-19 pandemic, psychiatric hospitalization, interpersonal stressors, financial stress, family conflict
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