Childhood adversities as risk factors for onset and persistence of suicidal behaviour.
BACKGROUND
Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, but the precise effect of childhood adversities as risk factors for the onset and persistence of suicidal behaviour (suicide ideation, plans and attempts) are not well understood.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the associations between childhood adversities as risk factors for the onset and persistence of suicidal behaviour across 21 countries worldwide.


METHODS
Respondents from nationally representative samples (n = 55 299) were interviewed regarding childhood adversities that occurred before the age of 18 years and lifetime suicidal behaviour.


RESULTS
Childhood adversities were associated with an increased risk of suicide attempt and ideation in both bivariate and multivariate models (odds ratio range 1.2-5.7). The risk increased with the number of adversities experienced, but at a decreasing rate. Sexual and physical abuse were consistently the strongest risk factors for both the onset and persistence of suicidal behaviour, especially during adolescence. Associations remained similar after additional adjustment for respondents' lifetime mental disorder status.


CONCLUSIONS
Childhood adversities (especially intrusive or aggressive adversities) are powerful predictors of the onset and persistence of suicidal behaviours.
Bruffaerts
Ronny
R
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium. ronny.bruffaerts@med.kuleuven.be
Demyttenaere
Koen
K
Borges
Guilherme
G
Haro
Josep Maria
JM
Chiu
Wai Tat
WT
Hwang
Irving
I
Karam
Elie G
EG
Kessler
Ronald C
RC
Sampson
Nancy
N
Alonso
Jordi
J
Andrade
Laura Helena
LH
Angermeyer
Matthias
M
Benjet
Corina
C
Bromet
Evelyn
E
de Girolamo
Giovanni
G
de Graaf
Ron
R
Florescu
Silvia
S
Gureje
Oye
O
Horiguchi
Itsuko
I
Hu
Chiyi
C
Kovess
Viviane
V
Levinson
Daphna
D
Posada-Villa
Jose
J
Sagar
Rajesh
R
Scott
Kate
K
Tsang
Adley
A
Vassilev
Svetlozar M
SM
Williams
David R
DR
Nock
Matthew K
MK
D000293:Adolescent; D001601:Bereavement; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult