Abstract
Objectives: Suicidality during hospitalization is a common phenomenon with potential devastating consequences. We attempted to identify risk factors for in-hospital suicidality in a high risk group of adolescent inpatients hospitalized for suicidal behaviors (SB). Methods: The database of a tertiary adolescent psychiatric ward was screened for patients hospitalized consecutively for SB during 2001–2010. Data on documented demographic, clinical, and behavioral risk factors were collected. Suicidal events during hospitalization were classified according to the Columbia Classification Algorithm of Suicide Assessment. Results: The sample included 122 inpatients (53% female) aged 10–19 (Mean=15.77, Standard Deviation=2.89) years admitted for SB. Thirty-seven youth (30%) exhibited SB during the hospitalization period (the “suicidal group”), ten of which attempted suicide while hospitalized. There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical parameters between the suicidal and the non-suicidal groups. Younger age, history of drug use and a history of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) were independent predictors of a SA during hospitalization. A previous SA added significant risk to SA during hospitalization only in the group that had a history of NSSI. Conclusions: A high risk of SB exists among adolescents hospitalized for suicidality. The risk assessment for SA during hospitalization should include age, history of drug use and previous SA combined with a history of NSSI. Future studies should expand the efforts to identify potential risk factors of SB during hospitalization in this unique high-risk group.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Maya Amitai
Maya Amitai, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Psychological Medicine, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Reut Ben Baruch
Reut Ben Baruch, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.
David H Ben-Dor
David H. Ben-Dor, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Dorit Ben-Ami
Dorit Ben-Ami, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Michael Katz
Michael Katz, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel; Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, USA.
Roi Sagy
Roi Sagy, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Brill Mental Health Center, Tal-Aviv, Israel.
Roei Remez
Roei Remez, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Noam Liav
Noam Liav, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Moran Leibovich
Moran Leibovich, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Alan Apter
Alan Apter, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Psychological Medicine, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Abraham Weizman
Abraham Weizman, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Gil Zalsman
Gil Zalsman, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Psychiatry Divisions of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.