375 - Pediatric Mental Health: Investigating the Link Between Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Self-injury.

Publication Number: 375.6506

Dakota Daniels, Golisano Children's Hospital at The University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States; Paige Picou, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States; Jenson P. Rowan, Golisano Children's Hospital at The University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States; Rachel Missell-Gray, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States; Allan B. Shikh, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States; Arielle H. Sheftall, University of Rochester Medical Center, ROCHESTER, NY, United States

Background: Suicide has been declared the second leading cause of death for children 10 to 14 years. Previous research has found half of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) experience suicide ideation and 1 in 10 will attempt suicide. However, limited research has examined OCD’s relationship with suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in children.

Objective: The current study will investigate early childhood OCD symptom’s relationship with STBs and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). We hypothesize that OCD symptoms at baseline will be associated with baseline STBs/NSSI over the impact of demographics and depressive symptoms and OCD symptoms at baseline will predict STBs/NSSI at one-year follow-up over other variables.

Design/Methods: Baseline sample included n=262 children, 6-11 years. Fifty-one percent were female and 49.0% were male. Most youth identified as White (50.5%) or Black (32.4%), and 87.3% identified as non-Hispanic. The Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 6-18 was used to record obsessive-compulsive and depressive symptoms via parent report. Baseline and one-year follow-up STBs/NSSI were determined via parent and child reports, utilizing the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Twenty-nine children were excluded due to ineligibility or insufficient data. Power analysis in GPower showed N=74 is needed to be adequately powered (.80), which our sample surpassed. T-tests, chi-squares, bivariate correlations, and logistic regressions were conducted.

Results: OCD symptoms were associated with current suicidal thoughts (χ²=23.10, p=.001) and behaviors (χ²=6.72, p=.010) and NSSI (χ²=17.95, p=.001). Logistic regressions found that OCD symptoms were positively associated with current suicidal thoughts (OR=3.61, 95% CI 1.76-7.37) and NSSI (OR=3.35, 95% CI 1.69-6.64) but not suicidal behaviors, over and above age, sex, and depressive symptoms. In logistic regression analyses observing outcomes over time, OCD symptoms at baseline and STBs at one-year follow-up were not significantly associated; however, OCD symptoms were significantly associated with NSSI at one-year follow-up (OR=4.193 95% CI 1.258-13.98), over and above age, sex, and depressive symptoms.

Conclusion(s): These results suggest children with OCD symptoms are more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and NSSI; additionally, OCD symptoms may be predictive of NSSI later. Pediatric healthcare professionals and researchers should consider these symptoms as potential risks for younger children when assessing suicide risk. Future research should examine specific OCD subtypes, STBs, and NSSI to gain a clearer understanding of their relationship.

Demographic Characteristics of Children with and without Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms
Demographic Characteristics of Children with and without Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms

Logistic Regression Model for Predicting Child Suicidal Thoughts and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury at Baseline
Logistic Regression Model for Predicting Child Suicidal Thoughts and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury at Baseline

Logistic Regression Model for Predicting Child Non-Suicidal Self-Injury at One-Year Follow-up
Logistic Regression Model for Predicting Child Non-Suicidal Self-Injury at One-Year Follow-up