Characteristics of Suicide Attempts in Adolescents: A Comparative Study between Adolescents and Adults

Introduction: Suicide attempts represent a public health issue due to their significant impact on morbidity and the risk of recurrence. Objectives: Determine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of suicide attempts among adolescents, compare them to those of adults, and identify the associated risk factors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study conducted over a four-month period from September 1 to December 31, 2022, involving a clinical population of adolescents and adults who sought consultation following a suicide attempt at Ar-Razi Hospital in Salé, Morocco. A questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic characteristics as well as the circumstances surrounding the suicide attempt. Psychiatric disorders were assessed using the diagnostic criteria from the DSM-5 psychiatric manual. Results: Our study included 100 patients who sought consultation following a suicide attempt. These patients were divided into two groups: 40 adolescents under the age of 19 and 60 adults aged 19 to 65 years. The mean age was 15.57 ± 2.03 years for adolescents and 36.56 ± 13.06 years for adults. In both groups, there was a higher proportion of females compared to men, with no significant difference between the sexes. The absence of employment among adults was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In adolescents, the most common psychiatric disorder was depressive disorder, whereas in adults, addictive behaviors were predominant. The causes of suicide attempts were related to abuse and sexual maltreatment in adolescents, and to psychiatric disorders and financial difficulties in adults (p < 0.05). Intentional medication overdose was the most frequently encountered method of suicide (34%) in both groups. Conclusion: Suicidal behavior in adolescents is associated with psychosocial factors that differ from those in adults, and the underlying psychiatric disorders are also distinct. Suicide prevention strategies for this population must be ....