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NCT Number: NCT07302295

Analysis of Suicidal Behavior Among Children and Adolescents in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Region During the Covid 19 Pandemic Period

In 2020, the world is hit by a global health crisis due to a pandemic following the appearance of Sars-cov-2 or "covid-19". This pandemic was accompanied by a constant fear of contamination and death, relayed by the media. In France, the government proposed in response to the arrival of this virus on French territory. This policy was implemented in different ways over 3 distinct periods: strict containment at the start of the epidemic, then a "lighter" one, and finally a period of social restrictions without between these periods. This policy had a direct and rapid impact on the population's daily routines. Children and adolescents, are more susceptible to psychological trauma, as stress has a direct and psychic development. Studies have shown deleterious impact of the French health situation on the paediatric population. They point to an increase of psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety in the under -20s population, and an increase in suicidal gestures over the 2020-2021 period, with rates remaining higher than in previous years. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in the population aged 15-24.

Studies continue to focus on the incidence of suicidal gestures of suicidal gestures and psychological disorders, and few of them examine the factors linked to the increase in these incidences, the traumatic impact or the story of the trajectory. Similarly, the few studies focus only on the population aged 12 and over, and in some cases, do not distinguish between age groups (15-24 or under 20).

Investigators believe that the various periods of social restrictions and eco-anxiety caused by the pandemic may have influenced suicidal behaviour in this population.

The main objective of this study is to investigate the clinical and socio-economic characteristics of the pediatric population who experienced suicidal behaviors in the Auvergne Rhone Alpes region during the covid 19 pandemic.

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Key information

Conditions

Suicidality Behavior Behavioral Symptoms COVID -19 COVID-19 Coronaviridae Infections Coronavirus Infections Infections Lung Diseases Nidovirales Infections Pneumonia Pneumonia, Viral RNA Virus Infections Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Self-Injurious Behavior Suicidal Ideation Suicide Virus Diseases

Age range

8 year–18 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Hospices Civils de Lyon - Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant- Service de pédopsychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Bron, France

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • The population (subjects and controls) will be divided into age categories:
  • Pre-adolescents (≥ 8 years and < 11 years)
  • Adolescents (≥ 11 years and < 15 years)
  • Older adolescents (≥ 15 years and < 18 years)

Subjects with suicidal behavior during the health crisis (Group 1):

  • Age > 8 years and < 18 years during the period 2020 to 2022.
  • Admitted to pediatric emergency departments or hospitalized in a care unit (CHU, general hospitals) in the AURA region during 2020, 2021, and/or 2022 for suicidal behavior (defined as suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempt and/or self-harm/self-poisoning with suicidal intent).

Subjects with suicidal behavior during the health crisis with qualitative interviews (Group 1b):

  • Age > 8 years and < 18 years during the period 2020 to 2022.
  • Admitted to pediatric emergency departments or hospitalized in a care unit (CHU, general hospitals) in the AURA region during 2020, 2021, and/or 2022 for suicidal behavior (defined as suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempt and/or self-harm/self-poisoning with suicidal intent).
  • Randomly selected from the population of Group 1.
  • For whom the parent(s) and/or the subject have signed informed consent.

Controls with suicidal behavior before the health crisis (Group 2):

  • Age > 8 years and < 18 years during the period 2018 to 2019.
  • Admitted to pediatric emergency departments or hospitalized in a care unit (CHU, general hospitals) in the AURA region during 2018 and/or 2019 for suicidal behavior (defined as suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempt and/or self-harm/self-poisoning with suicidal intent).

Exclusion criteria

  • Subjects with Suicidal Behavior during the Health Crisis with and without Qualitative Interviews (Group 1 and 1b):
  • Admitted to pediatric emergency services or hospitalized in a healthcare facility (university hospital center, general hospital) in the AURA region for a psychiatric reason other than suicidal behavior during the period from 2020 to 2022.

Controls with Suicidal Behavior before the Health Crisis (Group 2):

  • Admitted to pediatric emergency services or hospitalized in a healthcare facility (university hospital center, general hospital) in the AURA region for a psychiatric reason other than suicidal behavior during the period from 2018 to 2019.
  • Intercurrent illness with a life expectancy of less than 24 hours.

For Group 1:

  • Pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding women.
  • Persons deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision.
  • Adults subject to a legal protection measure (guardianship, curatorship).
  • Persons not affiliated with a social security scheme or beneficiaries of a similar scheme.
  • Persons who do not understand and do not speak French.

Treatment and study plan

Aggregated data collection

Other

The demographic and diagnostic characteristics will be collected in aggregate form nafrom digital services departments or medical information departments of participating hospitals.

Data collection and qualitative interview

Other

The psychopathological and socioeconomic characteristics will be collected. For subjects who agreed, they will participate in interviews and/or focus groups. Parent's subjects who agreed will be part of focus groups too.

Primary outcomes

  1. Demographic and diagnostic characteristics

    Time frame: Baseline

    The following demographic and diagnostic characteristics will be collected in aggregate form for the entire population of children and adolescents who engaged in suicidal behavior during the health crisis and in the two preceding years:

    • Age, gender, place of residence,
    • ICD-10 diagnosis and referral,
    • Type of suicidal behavior (ideation, self-harm, suicide attempt),
    • Periods of social restrictions (lockdown, curfew, vaccine pass).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of patients aged 8-17 and 11month admitted to pediatric emergency

    Time frame: Baseline

    Number of patients aged 8-17 and 11month admitted to pediatric emergency rooms or hospitalized in a continuous care/intensive care unit of university hospitals (CHU) or general hospitals (CH) for suicidal behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic period of 2020, 2021, and 2022, and those in the two preceding years: 2018 and 2019.

  2. Psychopathological and socio-economic characteristics

    Time frame: Baseline

    The following psychopathological and socio-economic characteristics will be collected:

    • Age, sex, place of residence,
    • Family situation and intrafamilial relationships
    • Type of suicidal behavior and description (ideation, self-harm, suicide attempt)
    • Periods of social restrictions (lockdown, curfew, vaccination pass)
    • Leisure time and type of leisure activities/hobbies
    • Education
    • Relationship with peers
    • Previous and current psychiatric diagnosis (according to ICD-10)
    • Personal and family psychiatric history
    • Personal medical history
    • Pharmacological and psychological treatment; Type of care

  3. Scores to CRIES

    Time frame: Up to 3 months

    Scores on the Children's Revised Impact of Events Scale (CRIES-13) (Horowitz et al., 1979; Brunet et al., 2003) among children from a representative sample of the cohort (group 1b, volunteer subjects).

  4. CAS scale

    Time frame: Up to 3 months

    Scores on the Climate Anxiety Scale (CAS) (Clayton and Karazsia, 2020; Mouguiama-Daouda et al., 2022) among children from a representative sample of the cohort (group 1b, volunteer subjects).

  5. Qualitative interview

    Time frame: Up to 3 months

    Semi-structured interviews with children and adolescents with suicidal behavior from a representative sample of the cohort.

    Subjects who agreed to interviews. We will try to have a sample of volunteers from Group 1 who can be representative of our population (care orientation, age, personal psychiatric history, and place of residence.)

  6. Results to focus groups (parent's subjects, group 1b)

    Time frame: Up to 3 months

    Focus groups with the parents of children and adolescents with suicidal behavior from a representative sample of the cohort (randomly selected).

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Elise MAMIMOUE, Dr

CONTACT

[email protected]

472129567 ext. +33

Sonia GALLETTI

CONTACT

[email protected]

427857739 ext. +33

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hospices Civils de Lyon

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Clinical and Socioeconomic Characteristics of Suicidal Behaviour in Children and Adolescents During the Covid19 Pandemic Period in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Prospective Quantitative and Qualitative Study

Acronym: TSPedCovid

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Dec 24, 2025
Registry last updated
May 18, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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