Two generations of Slovenian suicidal adolescent inpatients.
BACKGROUND
The political and socio-economic situation in Slovenia, a former Yugoslav republic, a country in transition and a country with a high suicide rate, which joined the European Union in 2004, has changed steadily since the beginning of the 1970s. Literature shows constancy in suicide statistics in Slovenia during these times.


OBJECTIVE
The present study examines whether the suicidal adolescent inpatient population in Slovenia reflects recent social changes and upheavals.


METHODS
Data on two groups of patients admitted to a specialized adolescent psychiatry department after attempting suicide were collected. The first group (n = 74) were patients admitted from 1975 to 1977, the second group (n = 73) from 2002 to 2004. They were compared on general characteristics, family and living circumstances, risk behaviors, suicide attempts and diagnoses.


RESULTS
The comparison revealed statistically significant differences between groups on educational level, number of siblings, frequency of smoking and psychoactive medication misuse as well as number of previous suicide attempts. No differences were found in other family and living circumstances, methods used in the index suicide attempt, other risk behaviors or diagnoses.


CONCLUSIONS
The post-independence suicidal inpatient population in Slovenia shows a tendency towards higher morbidity, but has changed less than expected considering the vast changes in the society. These results suggest a certain constancy in adolescent suicidal behavior.
Radobuljac
Maja
M
Psihiatricna Klinika Ljubljana, KOMZ, Slovenija. maja.radobuljac@psih-klinika.si
Groleger
Urban
U
Ovsenik
Nada
N
Tomori
Martina
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017524:Slovenia; D012922:Social Change; D013406:Suicide, Attempted