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Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder 'leaving suicide legacy'

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Silent condition

Alcohol Thousands of children across the UK may be suffering from foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which leaves them vulnerable to mental health problems and at an increased risk of suicide, according to the Times Educational Supplement (TES).

However, in many cases children often go untreated and are not given the proper support they require, due to being perceived simply as troublesome pupils.

Labour peer Lord Mitchell told the TES: "Pupils with this syndrome are frequently put into the 'awkward squad' category and it would help if teachers were able to know about the cause of their behaviour."

Oxford University Professor Barry Carpenter, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust's director of special educational needs told the newspaper: "Currently, there is no direct guidance from any government agency in the UK to teachers on how to educate children with FASD."

The effects of FASD

The problems associated with FASD not only manifest themselves in school age children, but can continue into adult life. A US study cited by the TES found that 60 per cent of adults with FASD will at some point enter the criminal justice system, while 23 per cent will attempt to take their own life on at least one occasion, compared to the U.S national average of 4.6 per cent reported in the National Comorbidity Study.

During a study entitled Suicide Attempts Among Adults with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Clinical Considerations, researchers analysed the clinical profiles of 11 adults with FASD. They discovered that those suffering from the condition experienced some form of psychological or mental health-related problem at every developmental stage, according to BNET.

The study also found that six of the 11 people assessed had attempted suicide at some point in their lives. Those who had previously attempted to take their own lives were found to have experienced a number of conditions connected to their FASD, including substance abuse and mental health disorders. Those who had attempted suicide were also more likely to have experienced some form of trauma or abuse, and were more likely to find themselves unable to cope with financial problems and without a social support network.

The causes of FASD

FASD is an umbrella term used to describe a range of conditions including Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, Partial Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder, Alcohol Related Birth Defects and Foetal Alcohol Effects, according to the FASD Trust.

All forms of FASD are caused by alcohol being consumed by the mother during the nine months of pregnancy, according to TES. It is a lifelong condition, although it can be to some extent managed medically if identified.

The Suicide Attempts Among Adults with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Clinical Considerations identifies the condition as a form of organic brain damage causing neurodevelopmental deficits.

How prevalent is FASD?

The FASD Trust states: "We do not know how common FASD is in the UK as no study has ever been undertaken.

"If we take what information has been found in other parts of the world, rates of one per cent having FASD have been shown, with this increasing to ten per cent amongst high risk sections of the population."

However, according to endingsuicide.com the condition has been estimated to affect one in 100 children, equating to 40,000 live births each year. The TES quotes the same figure and further reports that this number has been predicted to rise due to an increasing culture of binge-drinking among women in the UK.

The newspaper also states that the number of children suffering from FASD is estimated at ten pupils in every normal-sized secondary school across the UK, a statistic which makes it the most common non-genetically originating learning disability in the country.

Identifiable symptoms of FASD

In a letter to the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, Doctors Kieran O'Malley MB and Janet Huggins PhD identify symptoms which occur particularly in individuals with FASD at a high risk of taking their own lives. These include unexplained impulsivity, substance abuse and a comorbid mood disorder.

In school-age children symptoms of FASD can include impaired ability at numeracy and a lack of behavioural, cognitive and social skills. Those on the foetal alcohol disorder spectrum can also experience impaired judgment, a lack of emotional insight, impulse control problems, mood swings and decreased capabilities in problem-solving and decision-making, according to BNET.

Further consequences of FASD for sufferers of the condition can include facial deformities, pronounced mental retardation, severe attention and memory problems, and behavioural problems, according to endingsuicide.com.

Support for FASD sufferers

Charity the FASD Trust was established in 2007 as an information and support source for those suffering form, or caring for someone suffering from, FASD.

The Trust asserts that it aims to offer help to those affected by the condition by: "improving the understanding of those with FASD […] increasing the support that those with FASD and their families/carers receive […] [and] preventing others being born with FASD."

It offers support to sufferers and carers via support groups which operate in cities throughout England including Manchester, Sussex, Kent, Cornwall and Birmingham. It also holds training seminars, family support groups and a telephone help line on 0560 268 9578 for those requiring immediate or anonymous support.

For parents concerned that their child may be suffering from FASD, the Trust advises that the first step is to consult a GP, who can then direct them to further forms of physical and mental health care such as Paediatrics, Genetics and Developmental Psychiatry.

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or concerned about a friend can call Samaritans 24 hours a day for emotional support on 08457 90 90 90 (UK) and 1850 60 90 90 (ROI). Alternatively, you can email at jo@samaritans.org, or drop in to a Samaritans branch for face to face support, visit http://www.samaritans.org/ to find your nearest branch.