Clinical and Familial Predictors of Suicidal Ideation and Treatment Outcomes in Hospitalized Adolescents in Turkey: A Retrospective Analysis

Children (Basel). 2026 Apr 24;13(5):596. doi: 10.3390/children13050596.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Adolescent psychiatric inpatient units play a critical role in the management of severe psychiatric disorders and suicide risk. However, limited evidence exists regarding the clinical and familial factors that simultaneously influence suicidal ideation and treatment outcomes in hospitalized adolescents. This study aimed to identify demographic, diagnostic, and clinical predictors of suicidal ideation and clinical improvement among adolescents hospitalized in a tertiary child and adolescent psychiatry inpatient unit.

METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 75 adolescents aged 12-18 years who were hospitalized in a tertiary child and adolescent psychiatry inpatient unit between November 2023 and June 2025. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were obtained from medical records. Clinical improvement was evaluated using the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale. Group comparisons were conducted using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables and the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of suicidal ideation and clinical improvement.

RESULTS: Clinical improvement was evaluated in the full sample of adolescents (n = 75), and longer length of stay was independently associated with clinical improvement during hospitalization. Among adolescents admitted with suicidal ideation (n = 45), major depressive disorder, previous suicide attempt, irritability at admission, and fewer siblings were identified as independent predictors of suicidal ideation. In addition, female adolescents had higher rates of suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injury, whereas psychotic disorders were more common among male adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal ideation in hospitalized adolescents is strongly associated with affective pathology and prior suicidal behavior. Longer inpatient treatment duration appears to facilitate clinical improvement. These findings highlight the importance of early suicide risk stratification and adequate treatment duration in adolescent psychiatric inpatient care.

PMID:42194122 | DOI:10.3390/children13050596