ABSTRACT
Data are lacking about the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviour in incarcerated adolescents in Asia. This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the prediction of suicidal attempts in 100 incarcerated males aged 12-19 years in Shiraz. Data were collected in face-to-face interview using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia [Farsi version]. The mean age was 16.8 [SD 1.3] years and mean age at first imprisonment was 16.0 [SD 1.5] years. Nearly 70% of the adolescents had at least one current psychiatric disorder, the commonest being: conduct disorder [55%], oppositional defiant disorder [48%] and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [33%]; 11% had major depressive disorder and 2% schizophrenia. In all, 20% had self-harmed without intent to kill themselves and 12% had attempted suicide, 50% of whom had tried more than once. In logistic regression analysis only self-harming behaviour and major depressive disorder were significant predictors of attempted suicide