Integrative Journal of Global Health

Early recognition of Suicidality as a presenting symptom of an underlying Neurological disorder in a Teenager

International Congress on Global HealthCare
May12, 2021 | Webinar

Sheila Joyce Asghar

Louisiana State University Health, USA

ScientificTracks Abstracts: Integr J Glob Health

Abstract

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among U.S. teens. The suicide rate has grown by 62% since 2000. In 2018, the highest annual number of adolescent suicide deaths that included 1,750 young people aged 12-17 was reported. Suicidal ideation and behavior have been associated with neurological illnesses such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is the most common demyelinating disorder with a prevalence of 30.1 cases per 100,000 in North America. MS has been associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms during and between MS exacerbations in about 48% of the pediatric population. Early recognition is critical for early management and assessment of the patient. Our patient a 14 year old presented with a suicide attempt via stragulation (Logarbo et al 2021). She had a 2 year history of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation and had been treated for depression. Incidental cerebral imaging studies revealed extensive actively demyleinating lesions concerning for MS. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis (CSF) had elevated oligoclonal bands and kappa light chains. She was successully treated with a 5 day course of methyprednisone however continued to have an expansive affect. This case exemplifies the importance to recognize suicidal symptoms. Personalized screening tools for high suicide risk such as Computerized Adaptive Screen for Suicidal outh or CASSY can be easily completed in the ED on a digital device. (JAMA Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.4576). Furthermore, a careful history may identify neurological symptoms that could co occur such as vison loss which was identified in our patient 2 years prior but not investigated further.

Biography

I am a Pediatric Neurologist with additional subspecialty in Sleep Medicine from Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN practicing at Louisiana State University. I am a Clinical Assistant Professor and serve as Co-Director of the Sleep Center. My graduate degree) (Master’s) is in Psychiatry from University of Alberta, Canada. I have served as subinvestigator in many clinical trials. My focus of interest is in neurodevelopmental disorders and their overlap with sleep issues as well as post COVID symptoms in the Pediatric popuation. Currently I have my own research projects in Neuroinflammatory markers in Children tested for COVID and Innovative Pediatric Sleep Medicine.