ADHD symptoms and suicide attempts in adults with mood disorders: An observational naturalistic study

Alberto Forte; Salvatore Sarubbi; Massimiliano Orri; Denise Erbuto; Maurizio Pompili

Journal of Affective Disorders Reports (Dec 2021)

ADHD symptoms and suicide attempts in adults with mood disorders: An observational naturalistic study

Alberto Forte,
Salvatore Sarubbi,
Massimiliano Orri,
Denise Erbuto,
Maurizio Pompili

Affiliations

Alberto Forte: Corresponding author.; Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Substance Abuse, ASL Roma 5, Rome, Italy; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Bordeaux Population Health Research Centre, Inserm U1219, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
Salvatore Sarubbi: Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Substance Abuse, ASL Roma 5, Rome, Italy; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Bordeaux Population Health Research Centre, Inserm U1219, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
Massimiliano Orri: Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Substance Abuse, ASL Roma 5, Rome, Italy; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Bordeaux Population Health Research Centre, Inserm U1219, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
Denise Erbuto: Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Substance Abuse, ASL Roma 5, Rome, Italy; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Bordeaux Population Health Research Centre, Inserm U1219, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
Maurizio Pompili: Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Substance Abuse, ASL Roma 5, Rome, Italy; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Bordeaux Population Health Research Centre, Inserm U1219, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 6
p. 100224

Abstract

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Background: Although several studies explored the association between ADHD and suicidality in the pediatric population, there is a lack of studies focusing on adults. It is particularly unclear whether comorbid mood disorders confer an increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempt among individuals with high ADHD symptoms. Methods: Participants were 111 inpatients admitted to the Department of Psychiatry of Sant'Andrea Hospital between July 2017 and July 2018. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Lifetime and last-month suicidal ideation and attempts were rated with The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Symptoms of ADHD were rated using The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Version 1.1 (ASRS-V1.1). Results: Of the 111 participants, 40.6% had a history of suicide attempts. No associations were found between ADHD symptoms and suicide attempt/ideation as well as mood disorder diagnosis and suicide attempt, while an association between mood disorder diagnosis and suicidal ideation was found. ADHD symptoms were significantly associated with suicide attempt (lifetime and in the last 3 months) only among participants with mood disorders (lifetime, OR 2.30; 95% CI: 0.97–3.64; 3-months OR 2.34; 95% CI: 0.19–4.49) Limitations: Given the cross-sectional nature of the study, the directions of the associations described are uncertain. Conclusions: ADHD symptoms were significantly associated with lifetime and recent suicide attempts, only when a mood disorder diagnosis was comorbid. The co-occurrence of ADHD symptoms and a mood disorders diagnosis might confer a higher risk of suicide attempt among adults.

Published in Journal of Affective Disorders Reports

ISSN: 2666-9153 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Other systems of medicine: Mental healing
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-affective-disorders-reports

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