Personality traits and suicide probability in children and adolescents with specific learning disorder

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the personality traits and suicide probability of children and adolescents with a diagnosis of specific learning disorder (SLD). Materials and Methods: Sixty children with SLD diagnosis and 60 children without SLD diagnosis were included in the study. K-SADS-PL (Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime version), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised Short Form (WISC-R), Children Depression Inventory (CDI), Suicide Probability Scale (SPS) Personality Inventory for DSM‑5‑Brief Form‑Children (PID-5-BF) scales were used in this study. Results: Factors such as low birth weight, SPS total score and hopelessness subscale, PID-5-BF total score and other subscale scores (excluding antagonism) were higher in the SLD group compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of CDI score. Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy had higher frequency of suicidal thoughts and PID-5-BF total scores. Conclusion: Suicide probability and personality pathologies of children with SLD were found to be higher, regardless of the level of depression. While the low birth weight was important in the etiology of SLD, exposure to smoking during pregnancy was found to be a risk factor for child’s suicidal ideation and personality pathologies.

Keywords

• specific learning disorder (sld)
• suicide
• personality
• pregnancy
• children
• özgül öğrenme güçlüğü (öög)
• intihar
• kişilik
• gebelik
• çocuklar