Attachment, suicidal behavior, and self-harm in childhood and adolescence: a study of a cohort of Brazilian schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Attachment influences the development and the formation of the self and subjectivity and, just as early adverse events, may be related to the occurrence of mental disorders, suicidal behavior, and self-harm throughout life. This study aimed to analyze the effect of mental representation of attachment in children on suicidal behavior and self-harm throughout childhood and adolescence, considering the mediating role of internalizing problems. METHODS: Based on a cohort of 500 students (mean age 8 years, SD 1.2) sampled from public schools in a Brazilian southeastern metropolis, 316 children were followed for eight years in three waves (2006, 2008, 2012). The following data from the research baseline (2005) were used: family drawing, maternal and family variables, and sociodemographic data. The mental representation of attachment (independent variable) was measured by the Family Drawing Global Scale, discriminating between secure attachment and non-secure attachment. Suicidal behavior/self-harm (dependent variable) and internalizing problems were evaluated in three research waves through CBCL and YSR (ASEBA). Descriptive analysis, calculation of frequencies and p-values of the variables of interest, as well as modeling of structural equations, were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence throughout the study was: 17.1% [CI 13.3-20.8] for suicidal ideation and 8.9% [CI 5.6 - 12.2] for self-harm; there was a recurrence at one time in 16.5% [IC 12.6 - 20.3] and in two or more moments in 4.1% [CI 2.0 - 6.3] of the sample. Female gender (p = 0.035), internalizing disorders (p < 0.01), and non-secure attachment (p = 0.035) were associated with the occurrence of suicidal behavior/self-harm. The modeling indicated that 92,2% of the total effect of attachment (p = 0.069) on suicidal behavior/self-harm was due to direct effect, the other 7,8% of the effect being mediated by internalizing problems, adjusted for the confounding variables sex, skin color/race, and social stratum. The total effect showed a positive value, which indicates an increase in suicidal behavior/self-harm when the non-secure attachment is present. The approximate OR of non-secure attachment on the total effect (direct + indirect) was 1.15, indicating that, when adjusting for confounding variables, there was a 15% increase in suicidal behavior/self-injury from non-secure attachment. CONCLUSIONS: The study supports the hypothesis that there is a relationship between disruptive attachment patterns (non-secure attachment) developed during infancy and suicidal and self-harm behavior during childhood and adolescence. These findings validate the concern about the first thousand days of childhood as a critical period for child growth and development, but also for the mental health of children and adolescents.

COVID-19 and Immunization: Reflections and Rationale on Why Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Should Help.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in widespread reflection in medical communities about the role of professional stakeholders in public health interventions. Health professionals, including mental health clinicians, should question how, when, and why they should intervene to address the obstacles and objections to these interventions.

Triple taboo: considerations about suicide among children and adolescents. / Triplo tabu: sobre o suicídio na infância e na adolescência.

This article aims to understand the construction and repercussion of taboos involving suicides among children and adolescents, considering the discomfort, silence, and dread that the theme causes across society. Due to the recognition of a continuum of taboos (taboo of death < taboo of suicide < taboo of child suicide), the authors present, as an attempt to address this issue, the concept of a triple taboo, recognizing the incommensurability of self-inflicted deaths that have children and adolescents as protagonists. Developed from a qualitative study with paediatricians during their medical residence, this paper serves as a call to professionals who assist children and adolescents in the country. Paediatric training needs to recognise these taboos and the dimensions of suicidal behaviour as a manifestation of violence and as a threat to mental health. Their identification is a critical and urgent element in contemporary children and adolescents' care.

Este artigo pretende compreender a construção e a repercussão dos tabus que envolvem o suicídio de crianças e adolescentes, considerando o incômodo, o silêncio e o pavor que esse tema provoca em toda a sociedade. Diante do reconhecimento de um continuum de tabus (tabu da morte < tabu do suicídio < tabu do suicídio infantojuvenil), propôs-se, como tentativa de clarificar essa questão, o conceito de um triplo tabu, valorizando a incomensurabilidade das mortes autoprovocadas que têm as crianças e os adolescentes como protagonistas. Tendo sido desenvolvido a partir de um estudo qualitativo com pediatras em formação, este documento se configura como um chamado aos profissionais que assistem crianças e adolescentes no país. É preciso que a formação pediátrica reconheça esses tabus e as dimensões do comportamento suicida como uma manifestação de violência e um agravo à saúde mental, identificando-o como um elemento crítico e urgente na assistência contemporânea a crianças e adolescentes.

Triplo tabu: sobre o suicídio na infância e na adolescência / Triple taboo: considerations about suicide among children and adolescents

Resumo Este artigo pretende compreender a construção e a repercussão dos tabus que envolvem o suicídio de crianças e adolescentes, considerando o incômodo, o silêncio e o pavor que esse tema provoca em toda a sociedade. Diante do reconhecimento de um continuum de tabus (tabu da morte < tabu do suicídio < tabu do suicídio infantojuvenil), propôs-se, como tentativa de clarificar essa questão, o conceito de um triplo tabu, valorizando a incomensurabilidade das mortes autoprovocadas que têm as crianças e os adolescentes como protagonistas. Tendo sido desenvolvido a partir de um estudo qualitativo com pediatras em formação, este documento se configura como um chamado aos profissionais que assistem crianças e adolescentes no país. É preciso que a formação pediátrica reconheça esses tabus e as dimensões do comportamento suicida como uma manifestação de violência e um agravo à saúde mental, identificando-o como um elemento crítico e urgente na assistência contemporânea a crianças e adolescentes.

Abstract This article aims to understand the construction and repercussion of taboos involving suicides among children and adolescents, considering the discomfort, silence, and dread that the theme causes across society. Due to the recognition of a continuum of taboos (taboo of death < taboo of suicide < taboo of child suicide), the authors present, as an attempt to address this issue, the concept of a triple taboo, recognizing the incommensurability of self-inflicted deaths that have children and adolescents as protagonists. Developed from a qualitative study with paediatricians during their medical residence, this paper serves as a call to professionals who assist children and adolescents in the country. Paediatric training needs to recognise these taboos and the dimensions of suicidal behaviour as a manifestation of violence and as a threat to mental health. Their identification is a critical and urgent element in contemporary children and adolescents' care.

Percepção e conhecimento de médicos residentes em pediatria no Rio de Janeiro sobre comportamento suicida na infância e na adolescência / Perception and knowledge of pediatric residents in Rio de Janeiro about suicidal behavior in childhood and adolescence

A transição epidemiológica das últimas décadas no Brasil trouxe necessidade de adaptações para o cuidado de crianças e adolescentes. Essa Nova Pediatria tem a violência, as condições crônicas e complexas e a saúde mental como importantes questões em sua agenda, com destaque para o comportamento suicida pelo impacto clínico-epidemiológico e pelo tabu que representa, inclusive na formação pediátrica. O objeto da pesquisa foi a relação dialógica dos médicos residentes (MR) em pediatria com o comportamento suicida, assim como a participação dos programas de residência médica (PRM) neste processo. Partiu-se de uma hipótese de que exista uma desconsideração ou inabilidade teórica e clínica dos MR por essa temática, dificultando a assistência integral ao público infantojuvenil. Objetivou-se compreender a percepção e o conhecimento de MR em pediatria sobre a morte e o comportamento suicida na infância e na adolescência, valorizando as experiências e vivências construídas nos PRM, a influência da cultura incluindo a mídia e as novas demandas da especialidade. Foi utilizado o método qualitativo, por meio da técnica de Grupos Focais (GF), a partir da qual 44 MR de cinco PRM no Rio de Janeiro participaram da pesquisa. Os diálogos evocados nos cinco GF realizados, gravados e transcritos, foram analisados, junto aos registros não verbais, a partir de três unidades de sentido elencadas e correlacionadas: O tabu do suicídio; Peculiaridades da assistência pediátrica: idealizações e conflitos; Lacunas formativas dos PRM em pediatria. Foi proposto o conceito de triplo tabu como uma tentativa de compreensão do suicídio de crianças e adolescentes pelos profissionais. Diante da constatação dos vazios curriculares sobre comportamento suicida na formação pediátrica, cinco pontos tornaram-se relevantes: (1) a baixa exposição sobre o tema; (2) o desinteresse discente; (3) o desconforto provocado pelo tema; (4) a organização dos PRM; (5) o ímpeto anatomopatológico. Como contrapartida ética, foi realizada uma atividade acadêmica subsequente para os integrantes de cada PRM envolvido. As proposições dos participantes e dos pesquisadores configuraram o objetivo estratégico da pesquisa, constituindo-se como uma potencial contribuição para a implantação e a consolidação de um novo currículo nacional para os PRM em pediatria, em vigor a partir de 2019.

The epidemiological transition of the last decades in Brazil brought the need to implemente several adaptations for the care of children and adolescents. This new pediatrics shows important topics on its content as violence, chronic and complex conditions and mental health, with emphasis on suicidal behavior due to clinical end epidemiological impact and the taboo that it represents, including in pediatric education. The objective of the research was to understand the relationship between medical residents (MR) in pediatrics with suicidal behavior, as well as the responsability of medical residency programs in this process. The hypothesis was that there is a lack of consideration or inability of MR for this issue, making it difficult to provide comprehensive assistance to children and adolescents. The qualitative method was choosen, using the Focal Groups technique (GF), from which 44 MR of five medical residency training in Rio de Janeiro participated in the research. The dialogues of the five groups, recorded and transcribed, were analyzed, together with the nonverbal registers. Three categories correlated appeared: The suicide taboo; Peculiarities of pediatric care: idealizations and conflicts; Formative gaps of medical residency training in pediatrics. The researchers proposed the concept of a triple taboo as an attempt to understand the suicide of children and adolescents by pediatrics´ professionals. Faced with these curriculum´s gaps pediatric education, five points became relevant: (1) the low exposure on the theme; (2) student disinterest; (3) the discomfort caused by the theme; (4) the organization of medical residency training; (5) the anatomopathological impetus. As an ethical counterpart, a subsequent academic activity was carried out for the members of each group involved. The participants' and researchers' proposals configured the strategic aim of the investigation, constituting a potential contribution to the implementation and consolidation of a new national curriculum for the medical residency training in pediatrics, beginning from 2019.

Aerofagia patológica: uma causa rara de distensão abdominal crônica / Pathologic aerophagia: a rare cause of chronic abdominal distension

Objetivo:Descrever o caso de uma adolescente com aerofagia patológica, uma doença rara causada pela deglutição excessiva e inapropriada de ar, e revisar o tratamento e os diagnósticos diferenciais.Descrição do caso:Menina de 11 anos portadora de retardo mental e cegueira, apresentava problemas comportamentais associados a retardo do desenvolvimento, foi consultada por distensão abdominal persistente por oito meses. Sua história pregressa incluía uma fundoplicatura à Nissen. Tomografia e radiografias abdominais mostravam distensão difusa do trato digestivo por ar, incluindo cólon e delgado. Doença de Hirschsprung foi excluída. A distensão persistiu mesmo após o controle da constipação e era mínima de manhã e máxima à noite. Ruídos audíveis e repetitivos de deglutição de ar foram observados e auscultados. A criança foi tratada farmacologicamente com o diagnóstico de aerofagia patológica associado a distúrbio obsessivo compulsivo, sem sucesso. A paciente foi submetida a gastrostomia descompressiva endoscopia e manteve nutrição oral.Comentários:A aerofagia patológica é uma doença rara e autolimitada em crianças, mas pode ser um problema grave e persistente naquelas com problemas neuropsiquiátricos, nas quais pode causar complicações sérias. Os tratamentos comportamentais e farmacológicos têm pouco sucesso nesse grupo. Casos graves podem precisar de tratamento cirúrgico, principalmente gastrostomia descompressiva.

Objective:To describe an adolescent with pathologic aerophagia, a rare condition caused by excessive and inappropriate swallowing of air and to review its treatment and differential diagnoses.Case description:An 11-year-old mentally impaired blind girl presenting serious behavior problems and severe developmental delay with abdominal distension from the last 8 months. Her past history included a Nissen fundoplication. Abdominal CT and abdominal radiographs showed diffuse gas distension of the small bowel and colon. Hirschsprung's disease was excluded. The distention was minimal at the moment the child awoke and maximal at evening, and persisted after control of constipation. Audible repetitive and frequent movements of air swallowing were observed. The diagnosis of pathologic aerophagia associated to obsessive-compulsive disorder and developmental delay was made, but pharmacological treatment was unsuccessful. The patient was submitted to an endoscopic gastrostomy, permanently opened and elevated relative to the stomach. The distention was resolved, while maintaining oral nutrition.Comments:Pathologic aerophagia is a rare self-limiting condition in normal children exposed to high levels of stress and may be a persisting problem in children with psychiatric or neurologic disease. In this last group, the disease may cause serious complications. Pharmacological and behavioral treatments are ill-defined. Severe cases may demand surgical strategies, mainly decompressive gastrostomy.