Association between childhood cognitive skills & adult suicidal behavior: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Cognitive skills
IQ
School performances
Suicide
Suicide attempt
meta-analysis
Journal
Journal of affective disorders
ISSN: 1573-2517
Titre abrégé: J Affect Disord
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 7906073
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
15 03 2023
15 03 2023
Historique:
received:
17
06
2022
revised:
23
12
2022
accepted:
25
12
2022
pubmed:
3
1
2023
medline:
14
2
2023
entrez:
2
1
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
It is unclear whether cognitive skill deficits during childhood carry risk for suicide attempt or mortality later in adulthood at the population level. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies examining the association between childhood cognitive skills and adult suicidal behavior, namely attempt and mortality. We systematically searched databases for articles then extracted study characteristics and estimates on the association between childhood cognitive skills (i.e., IQ or school performance at age ≤ 18 years) and later suicide attempt and mortality. Random-effect meta-analysis was used to quantify this association across all studies with available data. Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria and suggest an association between lower childhood cognitive skills and increased risk of suicidal behavior. Meta-analysis of the adjusted estimates from 11 studies (N = 2,830,191) found the association to be small but statistically significant. Heterogeneity was significant but moderate, and results were unlikely to be influenced by publication bias. In subgroup analyses, associations were significant only for males. No difference in effect size was found between suicide attempt and suicide mortality. Cognitive skills were measured with different cognitive subtests. Heterogeneity in the age of cognitive skills assessment. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were based on a relatively low number of studies. Individuals with lower cognitive skills in childhood have a greater risk of suicidal behavior in adulthood, especially males. Although the association was small, interventions improving cognitive skills may yield large effects on suicide prevention at the population level if the association is causal.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
It is unclear whether cognitive skill deficits during childhood carry risk for suicide attempt or mortality later in adulthood at the population level. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies examining the association between childhood cognitive skills and adult suicidal behavior, namely attempt and mortality.
METHOD
We systematically searched databases for articles then extracted study characteristics and estimates on the association between childhood cognitive skills (i.e., IQ or school performance at age ≤ 18 years) and later suicide attempt and mortality. Random-effect meta-analysis was used to quantify this association across all studies with available data.
RESULTS
Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria and suggest an association between lower childhood cognitive skills and increased risk of suicidal behavior. Meta-analysis of the adjusted estimates from 11 studies (N = 2,830,191) found the association to be small but statistically significant. Heterogeneity was significant but moderate, and results were unlikely to be influenced by publication bias. In subgroup analyses, associations were significant only for males. No difference in effect size was found between suicide attempt and suicide mortality.
LIMITATIONS
Cognitive skills were measured with different cognitive subtests. Heterogeneity in the age of cognitive skills assessment. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were based on a relatively low number of studies.
CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with lower cognitive skills in childhood have a greater risk of suicidal behavior in adulthood, especially males. Although the association was small, interventions improving cognitive skills may yield large effects on suicide prevention at the population level if the association is causal.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36592672
pii: S0165-0327(22)01508-7
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.146
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review
Journal Article
Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
158-168Subventions
Organisme : CIHR
Pays : Canada
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest None to declare.