Victimization in childhood as a suicide risk factor in adults

Background/Aim. There is a burgeoning literature on the association between childhood victimization and the risk of suicidal behavior in early adolescence, while there is significantly less research showing this association in adults. The aim of our study was to examine whether victimization in childhood increased the likelihood of suicide attempt in adults. Methods. The sample consisted of 90 patients, 71 females and 19 males, aged 37.92 ± 11.04 years on average, hospitalized in the Day Hospital of the Clinic of Psychiatry Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia. The Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ), Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40) and Beck Depression Inventory were used for 50 patients following suicide attempt and in 40 patients who were on psychotherapeutic treatment due to various life crises not resulting in suicide attempt. According to the indications, we excluded the patients with psychosis (F20-F29, F30-31 and F 32.3), substances abuse (F10-F19) and dementia (F00-F09), satisfying International Classification of Diseases-10 version (ICD-10) (the World Health Organization criteria). The examinees of both groups were matched by age, education and marital status. Comparison of the patient groups was done by the Students’ t-test for the parametric features and Mann-Whitney U test for nonparametric data. Results. The suicide attempters had moderate depression (19.76 ± 10.52) and used immature defense mechanisms (p < 0.001). The JVQ established statistical differences in the Total score (p < 0.005) and in two modules: Peer and Sibling Victimization (p < 0.005) and Sexual victimization (p < 0.005). Conclusion. The adults who were more likely to attempt suicide during their lifetime were more often victims of peer and sexual abuse in their childhood. Data on victimization in early childhood provide opportunities for early detection of persons with suicide risk that could help in the psychotherapeutic work with these patients, but also in the suicide prevention in a wider population.