Psychosocial Factors and Sociodemographic Characteristics Associated with Suicidality Risk in Chilean Adolescents.

Background: Suicidality in adolescents is a growing concern and is currently a public health issue in Chile and the world. Objective: To determine the association between the risk of suicidality with self-harm, sociodemographic parameters (that is, gender and type of school), psychosocial variables, and social and family support in Chilean adolescents. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 829 (377, 45.5% girls) children/adolescents between 10 and 19 years of age participated. Suicidality, self-esteem, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and social support perception were evaluated by standard, validated questionnaires. The presence of self-harm, dating violence, and family dysfunction was also evaluated through a self-report survey. Results: Suicidality risk was related to low self-esteem (OR = 9.73; 95%; CI = 6.62−14.28; p < 0.001), low HRQoL (OR = 5.0; 95%; CI = 3.51−7.13; p < 0.001), low social support (OR; 3.38, 95%; CI; 2.48−4.6; p < 0.001), and self-harm (OR = 8.03; 95%; CI = 5.69−11.33; p < 0.001). In family terms, suicidality risk was associated with exposure to physical (OR = 2.47, 95%CI; 1.69−3.6; p < 0.001) and psychological (OR = 1.78, 95; 1.33−2.39; p < 0.001) aggression between parents, and with considering their family dysfunctional (OR = 2.41 95%; CI = 1.69−3.41; p < 0.001). Finally, suicidality was associated with feeling mistreated by a boyfriend/girlfriend (OR = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.19−3.98; p = 0.011). Conclusion: Suicidality was associated with self-harm, low social, psychological and family well-being, and/or feeling mistreated by a boyfriend/girlfriend.

Depression is associated with lower levels of physical activity, body image dissatisfaction, and obesity in Chilean preadolescents.

Mental health during the preadolescent years may be determinant for later periods of life; therefore, the factors that influence it need to be studied deeply. The aim of this study was to determine the association between depressive symptoms with physical activity (PA), body image dissatisfaction and weight status in preadolescents. A total of 269 girls and 329 boys (age 12.02 ± 0.98 years) were included in this study. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body image dissatisfaction, PA and depressive symptoms were assessed. The PA reported an inverse association with depression in girls (ß:-2.12, P < 0.0001) and boys (ß:-1.13, P = 0.001). Instead, BMI in girls (ß: 1.00, P < 0.0001) and boys (ß: 0.70, P < 0.0001), and body image dissatisfaction in girls (ß: 0.05, P = 0.017) and boys (ß: 0.04, P = 0.003) reported positive association with depression. In the same way, depression was associated with obesity (odds ratio [OR] = 2.05, P = 0.020), but, the boys had higher risk (OR = 18.4, P < 0.001) than girls. In conclusion, depression in Chilean preadolescents presented association with low levels of PA, obesity and body image dissatisfaction. Therefore, schools should target and promote PA to improve psychological and physical health in preadolescents, which may reduce the future burden of mental illness.

Validación de la escala de suicidalidad OKASHA para adolescencia temprana en Chile / Validation of the "OKASHA" suicidal scale for the Chilean early adolescent population

El suicidio adolescente es un problema a nivel mundial que ha impulsado diversos esfuerzos de prevención, siendo relevante poder detectar a tiempo el riesgo a edades tempranas. A pesar de que existen diversos instrumentos para este propósito, sobre todo en adultos, en Chile no existe uno validado en población menor a 15 años de edad, donde se ha visto un aumento progresivo del riesgo durante los últimos años. Este estudio es una validación de la escala de suicidalidad OKASHA en población de 10 a 14 años. El instrumento presentó buenas propiedades psicométricas, tanto en la predicción de intentos reales de suicidio como en su correlación con otros predictores de riesgo descritos en la literatura. Debido a su buen poder predictivo, fácil administración y poco tiempo requerido, el instrumento resulta idóneo para ser utilizado en contextos como la atención primaria de salud o en la comunidad, donde la detección oportuna del riesgo y la adecuada derivación son de vital importancia, especialmente en una población donde dicho riesgo ha sido muchas veces invisibilizado y por ende no abordado hasta cometerse el acto propiamente tal.

Adolescent suicide is a worldwide problem that has triggered diverse prevention efforts. Detecting the risk as quickly as possible at an early age is highly relevant. Although there are various instruments that exist for this very purpose, mostly for adults, there is no validated instrument for those under 15 years of age. Incidentally, in the past couple of years this same age group has had an increased risk in this area. This study is a validation of the suicidal scale "OKASHA" for the population between 10 and 14 years old. The instrument presented good psychometric properties in both the prediction of real suicidal attempts and in its correlation with other risk predictors taken from literature. Due to its good predictive ability, easy administration, and the little time that is required, the instrument is ideal for being used in contexts such as in primary healthcare. It can also be used in the community, where detecting risk and referral in a timely fashion are of vital importance, especially in a population where such risk has been made invisible and for this reason, has not been detected until the final act has been accomplished.

Variables psicosociales, físicas y antropométrica en escolares chilenos. Un estudio comparativo según niveles de actividad física / Psychosocial, physical and anthropometric variables in Chilean schoolchildren. A comparative study according Physical Activity levels

Introducción: La actividad física (AF) tiene múltiples beneficios para la salud física y mental en distintos tipos de poblaciones, sin embargo, no existen evaluaciones integrales en población escolar. Por otra parte los niveles de inactividad física han generado un incremento de la obesidad infantil en todo el mundo y de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular, afectando el desarrollo integral de los niños y su calidad de vida, además de un gran número de componentes psicosociales. El propósito de la investigación fue comparar según niveles de AF, variables psicosociales, antropométricas y físicas en escolares chilenos. Método: Participaron 605 escolares (272 mujeres y 333 hombres) de entre 11 y 14 años de edad, se evaluó la autoestima, imagen corporal, capacidad cardiorespiratoria, presión arterial y parámetros antropométricos. Resultados: Las niñas presentaron mayor índice de masa corporal (IMC) y porcentaje de grasa corporal (GC), además presentaron mayor puntaje de riesgo de insatisfacción con la imagen corporal (p = 0,03), en la autoestima no existieron diferencias (p > 0,05). La AF fue superior en los niños (p < 0,001), al igual que los valores en la presión arterial sistólica (PAS) y diastólica (PAD) (P < 0,05). Los niños presentaron mayor proporción de escolares categorizados con AF alta (p < 0,001). Los escolares con menores niveles de AF presentan parámetros antropométricos más elevados (p < 0,001), así como también, presentan mayor riesgo de insatisfacción corporal (p = 0,009), menor autoestima (p < 0,001) y capacidad cardiorrespiratoria (p < 0,001). Conclusiones: Los escolares con menores niveles de AF presentan resultados negativos en variables psicosociales como la imagen corporal y autoestima, además de una menor capacidad cardiorrespiratoria y parámetros antropométricos elevados

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) has multiple benefits for physical and mental health in different types of populations; however, there are no comprehensive evaluations in school population. On the other hand, levels of physical inactivity have generated an increase in childhood obesity worldwide and cardiovascular risk factors, affecting the overall development of children and their quality of life, in addition to a large number of psychosocial components. The purpose of the research was to compare according to levels of PA, psychosocial, anthropometric and physical variables in Chilean schoolchildren. Method: 605 schoolchildren (272 women and 333 men) between 11 and 14 years of age participated. Self-esteem, body image, cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure and anthropometric parameters were evaluated. Results: The girls presented higher body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat (BF), in addition they presented higher risk score of dissatisfaction with the corporal image (p = 0.03), in the self-esteem there were no differences (p> 0.05). PA was higher in children (p < 0.001), as were values in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p < 0.05). Children had a higher proportion of school children categorized with high PA (p <0.001). School children with lower levels of PA have higher anthropometric parameters (p <0.001), as well as a higher risk of body dissatisfaction (p = 0.009) and lower self-esteem (p < 0.001) and cardiorespiratory fitness (p <0.001). Conclusion: Schoolchildren with lower PA levels presented negative results in psychosocial variables such as body image and self-esteem, as well as a lower cardiorespiratory fitness and high anthropometric parameters

Correlación entre test de Conners para padres y profesores en niños con trastorno de déficit atencional e hiperactividad en el Servicio de Psiquiatría Infanto Juvenil del Hospital Barros Luco Trudeau / Correlation between Conners parents and teachers rating Scale in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Barros Luco Trudeau´s Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service

Introducción: En el Trastorno por Déficit Atencional e Hiperactividad (TDAH) se han observado diferencias en los reportes de cuestionarios entre padres y profesores. Objetivos: Observar la concordancia entre padres y profesores en el test de Conners abreviado (TCA) en el TDAH. Métodos: Se evaluó con TCA para profesores y para padres a niños atendidos por becados de primer año, con diagnóstico clínico de TDAH. Resultados: De 57 pacientes, 21por ciento mujeres y 78,9 por ciento hombres, el promedio de los TCA de profesores fue de 16,85 puntos y el de padres de 16,98, existiendo mayor diferencia al separarlos por género. El coeficiente de correlación fue de 0,41. Las únicas variables significativamente asociadas al puntaje fueron edad y comorbilidad con Trastorno Oposicionista Desafiante (TOD). Conclusión: No existe correlación entre Conners de padres y profesores, lo que recalca la importancia de objetivar los síntomas en más de un ambiente, para llegar a un diagnóstico certero.

Introduction: There has been observed in the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) differences in the reports between parental and teachers questionnaires. Objectives: Observe concordance between parents and teachers in the abbreviated Conners Test (TCA) in ADHD. Methods: Children with clinical diagnosis of ADHD were evaluated by first year residents with parental and teachers TCA. Results: From a total of 57 patients, 21percent were women and 78, 9 percent men, the average of the TCA from teachers was 16, 85 points and from parents 16, 98, there was more difference if separated by sex. The correlation coefficient was 0, 41. And the only significant association between variables was TCA scores with child’s age and comorbidity with Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Conclusions: There is no correlation between parental and teachers TCA scores, which enhances the importance of objetivation of symptoms in more than one setting to get an accurate diagnosis.