SUICIDE AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUNGER AND OLDER ADOLESCENTS IN NORWAY - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

Objective: To compare characteristics and risk factors of suicide in e arly adolescence (younger than age 15 pears) and in late adolescence. The authors examined whether differences in risk factors or resilience might explain the different suicide rates in the two age groups. Meth od: Information about all registered suicides of young people in Norwa y from 1990 through 1992 was gathered from several professional inform ants. Children younger than 15 years old who committed suicide (n = 14 ) were compared with late-adolescent suicides (15 through 19 years) (n = 115) and with controls (n = 889). Results: Younger compared with ol der adolescent suicides more often hanged themselves (93% versus 35%). Suicidal ideation (7% versus 39%) and precipitating events were descr ibed less frequently (29% versus 49%). Older adolescents more often ha d psychiatric disorders (77% versus 43%). Compared with controls, the risk factors for suicide were affective disorders (young adolescents: odds ratio [OR] = 23.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.3 to 1,183; o lder adolescents: OR = 19.6, CI = 10.6 to 38.B); disruptive disorders (young adolescents: OR = 3.4, CI = 0.0 to 340; older adolescents: OR = 6.1, CI = 3.0 to 12.7); and not living with two biological parents (y oung adolescents: OR = 3.1, CI = 0.6 to 14.7; older adolescents: OR = 2.5, CI = 1.6 to 3.8). Conclusion: Children and young adolescents comp leting suicide were less exposed to known risk factors than older adol escents. The increased suicide risk was similar for both groups when t hey were compared with community controls. The low suicide incidence i n childhood may be related to fewer risk factors, rather than to resil ience to risk factors.