scholarly journals Interpersonal violence and suicidality among former child soldiers and war-exposed civilian children in Nepal

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anvita Bhardwaj ◽  
Christine Bourey ◽  
Sauharda Rai ◽  
Ramesh Prasad Adhikari ◽  
Carol M. Worthman ◽  
...  

Background.Suicide risk reduction is crucial for 15–29-year-old youth, who account for 46% of suicide deaths in low- and middle-income countries. Suicide predictors in high-resource settings, specifically depression, do not adequately predict suicidality in these settings. We explored if interpersonal violence (IPV) was associated with suicidality, independent of depression, in Nepal.Methods.A longitudinal cohort of child soldiers and matched civilian children, enrolled in 2007 after the People's War in Nepal, were re-interviewed in 2012. The Depression Self-Rating Scale and Composite International Diagnostic Interview assessed depression and suicidality, respectively. Non-verbal response cards were used to capture experiences of sexual and physical IPV.Results.One of five participants (19%) reported any lifetime suicidal ideation, which was associated with sexual IPV, female gender, former child soldier status and lack of support from teachers. Among young men, the relationship between sexual IPV and suicidality was explained by depression, and teacher support reduced suicidality. Among young women, sexual IPV was associated with suicidality, independent of depression; child soldier status increased suicidality, and teacher support decreased suicidality. Suicide plans were associated with sexual IPV but not with depression. One of 11 female former child soldiers (9%) had attempted suicide.Conclusion.Sexual IPV is associated with suicidal ideation and plans among conflict-affected young women, independent of depression. Reducing suicide risk among women should include screening, care, and prevention programs for sexual IPV. Programs involving teachers may be particularly impactful for reducing suicidality among IPV survivors.

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S101-S101
Author(s):  
D. Cozman ◽  
R. Moldovan ◽  
B. Nemes

IntroductionA better understanding of the genomics of mental illnesses allowed genetic counselling to be provided to individuals with severe mental illness and their families.AimThe present study was aimed at assessing the efficacy of genetic counselling for severe mental illnesses with high suicide risk.MethodAssessment was performed before and after genetic counselling session. Measures used were evaluation of traumatic events in childhood, multidimensional scale for perception of social support (SMSSP), positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS-X), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Paykel questionnaire and Genetic Counselling Outcome Scale (GCOS). Paykel's questionnaire consists of five questions about suicidal thoughts and attempts, including: life-weariness, death wishes, suicidal ideation, suicidal plans and suicide attempts. Intervention and assessment lasted approximately one and a half hour. Data from 48 patients was analysed.ResultsMean age of participants was M = 38.4, SD = 9.7, and the group was batter represented by females (57%). The participants had various diagnoses, 22% had schizophrenia, 36% bipolar disorder and 42% recurrent depressive disorder. Forty percent of participants reported suicidal ideation and 22,5% had a past history of suicide attempt. Genetic counselling had a direct positive influence upon GCOS specific items and reduced the Paykel scores among participants presenting with suicidal ideation.ConclusionGenetic counselling offers information about the disorder, the role of genetics and the impact of environmental factors. Preliminary data suggest that providing genetic counselling decreases the suicidal ideation frequency.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2021 ◽  
pp. 107780122110309
Author(s):  
Yifeng Du ◽  
Olivia D. Chang ◽  
Mingqi Li ◽  
Misu Kwon

The present study tested a prediction model involving affectivity and dispositional optimism as predictors of suicide risk (i.e., depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation) in young adult Chinese females with and without prior interpersonal violence (IPV) victimization (294 nonvictimized and 94 victimized females). Results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that negative affectivity was a significant predictor of both depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation for Chinese females, regardless of IPV victimization. Beyond affectivity, dispositional optimism was found to further add to the prediction model of depressive symptoms in both groups, but only for suicidal ideation in the IPV victimized group.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S395-S396 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pompili ◽  
M. Innamorati ◽  
D. Erbuto ◽  
A. Costanzo

IntroductionPsoriasis has a significant impact on the mental and emotional functioning.ObjectiveIt has been reported that the risk of psychiatric comorbidity increases with the severity of the disorder, and the most frequent associations appear to be those with depression and anxiety.AimsTo analyze the association between psoriasis, mental disorders and suicidal ideation in a sample of patients affected by psoriasis. To investigate the differences between psoriasis patients and patients with other dermatologic diseases.MethodsParticipants were 242 consecutive patients (142 women and 100 men), 112 patients with psoriasis (46.3%), 77 with melanoma (31.8%) and 53 with allergy (21.0%). All patients were administered a structured sociodemographic interview and the following measures: the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A). We also assessed current and previous suicidal ideation and previous suicide attempts.ResultsPatients with psoriasis (compared to other groups of patients) more frequently had a comorbid mood disorder (16.1% vs 3.9% and 0.0%, respectively for patients with melanoma and patients with allergy; χ22 = 14.98; P < 0.001), past suicidal ideation (33.9% vs 15.6% and 18.9%, respectively for patients with melanoma and patients with allergy; χ22 = 2.05; P < 0.01) and attempts (6.3% vs 0.0% and 0.0%, for the other groups of patients; χ22 = 8.37; P < 0.05). Patients with psoriasis reported higher HAM-D scores than melanoma patients.ConclusionsThe clinical evaluation of patients with psoriasis should include the assessment of psychiatric comorbidities and the routinely assessment of suicide risk.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 55-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aoife R. Singh ◽  
Ashok N. Singh

Worldwide there are currently 300 000 child soldiers. Not only does the use of child soldiers lead to individual suffering but it also alters the dynamics of war and makes conflict and instability more likely. It is important both to prevent recruitment and to rehabilitate former child soldiers into their communities. For rehabilitation and reintegration programmes to be effective, it is necessary to understand the consequences of child soldiering. This paper reviews and summarises some of the key findings related to the mental health consequences of being a child soldier.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
D. De Berardis ◽  
N. Serroni ◽  
A.M. Pizzorno ◽  
F.S. Moschetta ◽  
G. Sepede ◽  
...  

Objective:The aim of our study was to evaluate relationships between alexithymia and suicidal ideation a sample of adult outpatients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Methods:A sample of 86 adult outpatients with OCD (44 females and 42 males), was evaluated with a series of rating scales such as the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). the score of item #11 on the Y-BOCS was considered as a measure of insight.Results:Alexithymics showed a more early onset, a longer duration of illness and were more suitable to have a chronic course than nonalexithymics; they also reported higher MADRS and SSI scores. Alexithymics without insight (n=21) reported higher SSI scores than alexithymics with insight, nonalexythimics without insight and nonalexithymics with insight. A linear regression showed that chronic OCD course together with DIF dimension of TAS-20 and higher MADRS scores were significantly associated with higher suicide risk.Conclusions:Alexithymia and depressive symptoms were highly correlated in OCD patients and were significantly associated with higher suicide risk. DIF dimension of TAS-20 seems to be significantly associated with presence of suicidal ideation as well as chronic course of disorder. However, further longitudinal studies on larger samples are needed to definitely clarify this topic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-166
Author(s):  
Susanne Gehrmann

Abstract The article examines narratives by and about former child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a hitherto neglected corpus despite the topicality of child soldiering in African literatures after 2000. Critical readings of three testimonial texts that have been published in France are juxtaposed with the analysis of one testimonial narrative and one youth novel that have been published in Kinshasa. The editorial framing and narrative strategies that speak to different audiences located in different literary fields are identified. The popularity of testimonial narratives in the West relies on the depiction of violence and the iconic function of the child soldier in medial and human rights discourses. By contrast, narratives about the reconciliation and the reintegration of child soldiers prevail in the DRC. Thus, the different functions of global and local narratives on the sensitive issue of children at war are exposed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-70
Author(s):  
Milena Jakšić

This article follows a criminal investigation for recruitment of child soldiers, by asking the following questions: how does one find child soldiers? How does one bring them onto the judicial stage? The article explores the different moments that marked the investigation by the Office of the Prosecutor in the first case brought before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, that of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. After describing the successive stages of the investigation, the article analyses the conditions under which former child soldiers testified before the ICC. None of their nine testimonies was judged credible by the ICC Trial Chamber I. The different moments that marked these legal proceedings bring to light the instability of the category of child soldier and the uncertainty that regularly threatens the labour of judicial elucidation.


Author(s):  
Brian Rothberg ◽  
Robert E. Feinstein

All psychiatric assessments should include screening for recent suicidal ideation and past suicide behavior. The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) provides a reliable objective assessment of suicide risk. A history of past suicide attempts is a risk factor for future suicide, and risk is increased by more serious, more frequent, or more recent attempts. Over 90% of individuals who die by suicide have at least one psychiatric disorder. Patients with schizophrenia, alcohol and other substance use disorders, and borderline and antisocial personality disorders are at increased risk for suicide. Familial transmission of suicide risk appears to occur independent of the familial risk for psychiatric disorders; impulsivity seems to be an inherited trait that makes individuals more vulnerable to suicide. Hospitalization should be considered if suicidal ideation is present in a patient who is psychotic or who has a history of past attempts, particularly if near lethal, and may be the safest option in patients with other contributing medical conditions, limited family or social support, or lack of access to timely outpatient follow-up.


Author(s):  
Giancarlo Giupponi ◽  
Marco Innamorati ◽  
Elena Rogante ◽  
Salvatore Sarubbi ◽  
Denise Erbuto ◽  
...  

The present study was designed to shed light on a topic rarely explored and to suggest possible ways to detect risk factors for the presence of suicidal ideation and behaviors in a sample of adult patients with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study also explored the association between ADHD, affective temperaments, the presence of hypomania symptoms, and suicide risk. We hypothesized that (compared to healthy controls) (1) patients with adult ADHD would report more negative affective temperaments and more hypomania symptoms and (2) that they would have a higher suicide risk. The participants included 63 consecutive adult inpatients (18 women, 45 men) with ADHD and 69 healthy controls (42 women, 22 men). All participants were administered the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), the Hypomania Check-List-32 (HCL-32), the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), the Temperament Evaluation for Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego (TEMPS-A), and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Forty-six percent of the ADHD patients had an Axis 1 comorbid disorder. ADHD patients (compared to controls) more often reported suicidal ideation (46.0% vs. 5.9%, one-way Fisher exact test p < 0.001; phi = 0.46). ADHD patients and the controls also significantly differed in all the scales administered (with Cohen’s d between 0.92–4.70), except for the TEMPS-A Hyperthymia scale. A regression model indicated that ADHD was independently associated with higher scores of a negative temperaments/hypomania factor (Odd Ratio = 14.60) but not with suicidal ideation. A high incidence of suicidal ideation, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and negative affective temperaments was reported in adult ADHD patients, and clinicians should routinely assess risk factors for suicide among these patients.


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