Three questions on modified health questionnaire were more likely to predict suicidal behavior within one year of screening PHILADELPHIA , Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the University of Pittsburgh ( Pitt ) found that supplemental questions on a routine healthcare questionnaire could predict which adolescent patients are most likely to attempt suicide. Using this data could help identify those who are most at risk of suicidal behavior.
The findings were recently published by the journal JAMA Network Open . Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents. In order to curb this disturbing trend, pediatricians have integrated screening for depression and suicidal ideation as part of routine health care for this vulnerable age group.
One method that has seen some success is the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ-9), a widely used self-report screen for depression in adults and adolescents during outpatient visits that can identify depression. Item 9 on the PHQ-9, which measures the frequency of current suicidal ideation or thoughts of self-harm, can identify individuals at risk for suicide attempts and deaths in both adults and adolescents. However, while the risk for suicide attempts and deaths occurred more frequently with escalating suicidal ideation reported on item 9, more than one-third of those who made suicide attempts or died by suicide within 30 days of screening reported no suicidal ideat.