Longitudinal Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
ABSTRACT Background/Aims Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders among young people and significantly affects their quality of life. Previous research suggests an increased risk of suicidal behavior among individuals with ADHD; however, this has not...
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Wiley
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Brain and Behavior |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70618 |
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| author | Peter Garas Zsofia K. Takacs Judit Balázs |
| author_facet | Peter Garas Zsofia K. Takacs Judit Balázs |
| author_sort | Peter Garas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Background/Aims Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders among young people and significantly affects their quality of life. Previous research suggests an increased risk of suicidal behavior among individuals with ADHD; however, this has not yet been investigated in a meta‐analysis of long‐term studies. The primary aim of this study was to conduct an updated systematic review of longitudinal studies on ADHD and suicidality supplemented by meta‐analytic calculations. Methods A systematic search was conducted across the following databases: OVID Medline, OVID PsychInfo, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Only longitudinal studies were included, in which most participants were under 18 years of age at baseline, had a clinical ADHD diagnosis, and provided sufficient data about suicidal behavior. Results In total, nine studies were included in both the meta‐analysis and narrative review. The average odds ratios were significant and small to moderate in size for the following aspects: overall suicidality (OR = 3.336, 95% CI: 2.201; 5.057, p < 0.001), suicidal ideation (OR = 3.956, 95% CI: 1.996; 7.841, p < 0.001), suicide attempt (OR = 3.344, 95% CI: 1.682; 6.650, p = 0.001), and death (OR = 3.891, 95% CI: 2.103; 7.198, p < 0.001). The number of participants with ADHD ranged from 104 to 86,670, with a mean age between 5.2 and 14.94 years old, and the majority were male. Suicide behavior was more common in the ADHD combined subtype and the hyperactive/impulsive subtype. There are conflicting results regarding sex differences and the role of comorbidities. Conclusions The current systematic review and meta‐analysis confirms previous findings that individuals with ADHD are at an elevated risk for suicidal behavior. However, this relationship is heterogeneous and complex, with significant differences across ADHD subtypes, age groups, sexes, comorbidities, and social issues, all of which play important roles in the development of suicidal behavior. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2162-3279 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Brain and Behavior |
| spelling | doaj-art-6d4ff44846c84185a69b623d810239522025-08-20T03:36:38ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792025-06-01156n/an/a10.1002/brb3.70618Longitudinal Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐AnalysisPeter Garas0Zsofia K. Takacs1Judit Balázs2Mental Health Sciences School Semmelweis University Budapest HungarySchool of Health in Social Science the University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UKInstitute of Psychology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest HungaryABSTRACT Background/Aims Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders among young people and significantly affects their quality of life. Previous research suggests an increased risk of suicidal behavior among individuals with ADHD; however, this has not yet been investigated in a meta‐analysis of long‐term studies. The primary aim of this study was to conduct an updated systematic review of longitudinal studies on ADHD and suicidality supplemented by meta‐analytic calculations. Methods A systematic search was conducted across the following databases: OVID Medline, OVID PsychInfo, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Only longitudinal studies were included, in which most participants were under 18 years of age at baseline, had a clinical ADHD diagnosis, and provided sufficient data about suicidal behavior. Results In total, nine studies were included in both the meta‐analysis and narrative review. The average odds ratios were significant and small to moderate in size for the following aspects: overall suicidality (OR = 3.336, 95% CI: 2.201; 5.057, p < 0.001), suicidal ideation (OR = 3.956, 95% CI: 1.996; 7.841, p < 0.001), suicide attempt (OR = 3.344, 95% CI: 1.682; 6.650, p = 0.001), and death (OR = 3.891, 95% CI: 2.103; 7.198, p < 0.001). The number of participants with ADHD ranged from 104 to 86,670, with a mean age between 5.2 and 14.94 years old, and the majority were male. Suicide behavior was more common in the ADHD combined subtype and the hyperactive/impulsive subtype. There are conflicting results regarding sex differences and the role of comorbidities. Conclusions The current systematic review and meta‐analysis confirms previous findings that individuals with ADHD are at an elevated risk for suicidal behavior. However, this relationship is heterogeneous and complex, with significant differences across ADHD subtypes, age groups, sexes, comorbidities, and social issues, all of which play important roles in the development of suicidal behavior.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70618ADHDadolescentchildrenlongitudinal studysuicidal behavior |
| spellingShingle | Peter Garas Zsofia K. Takacs Judit Balázs Longitudinal Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis Brain and Behavior ADHD adolescent children longitudinal study suicidal behavior |
| title | Longitudinal Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis |
| title_full | Longitudinal Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Longitudinal Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Longitudinal Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis |
| title_short | Longitudinal Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis |
| title_sort | longitudinal suicide risk in children and adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | ADHD adolescent children longitudinal study suicidal behavior |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70618 |
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