Prevalence of DSM-IV mental disorders, deliberate self-harm and suicidal ideation in early adolescence: An Irish population-based study

• Published in: Journal of adolescence (London, England.) Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Coughlan, Helen, Tiedt, Lauren, Clarke, Mary, Kelleher, Ian, Tabish, Javeria, Molloy, Charlene, Harley, Michelle, Cannon, Mary
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2014; Elsevier; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child Behavior Disorders - epidemiology; Children; Comorbidity; Deliberate self-harm; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Early adolescence; European Continental Ancestry Group; Fear & phobias; Female; Humans; Ireland - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental Illness; Mood Disorders - epidemiology; Pediatrics; Phobias; Prevalence; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Schizophrenia; Self Destructive Behavior; Self-Injurious Behavior - epidemiology; Social Class; Students; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide; Suicides & suicide attempts; Teenagers; Europe; Ireland; Deliberate self-harm; Prevalence; Mental disorders; Adolescents; Early adolescence; Suicidal ideation; Human; Self injury; Epidemiology; Preadolescent; Population-based survey; Adolescent; Self destruction; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV; Suicide ideation; Public health
• ISSN: 0140-1971; 1095-9254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.10.004

Abstract Background This study investigated the prevalence of DSM-IV Axis 1 mental disorders, deliberate self-harm and suicidal ideation in a sample of Irish adolescents aged 11–13 years. Methods A total of 1131 students was surveyed for general psychopathology using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Following this, a representative sample of 212 adolescents was assessed for mental disorders, deliberate self-harm and suicidal ideation using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children. Results 14.6% of the sample met criteria for a borderline score and 6.9% for an abnormal score on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Following clinical diagnostic interviews, 27.4% of participants received a current diagnosis of an Axis 1 disorder and 36.8% received a lifetime diagnosis, those rates falling to 15.4% and 31.2% respectively when specific phobias were excluded. Conclusions Findings from this study reveal that Irish adolescents aged 11–13 years are experiencing high levels of mental ill-health.