Differences in Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Three Racial Groups

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-178
Author(s):  
Brooke A. Ammerman ◽  
Martha K. Fahlgren ◽  
Kristen M. Sorgi ◽  
Michael S. McCloskey

Abstract. Background: Despite being a major public health concern, it is unclear how suicidal thoughts and behaviors differentially impact separate racial groups. Aims: The aim of the current study was to examine the occurrence of nonlethal suicide events, in addition to suicide attempt characteristics and factors contributing to suicide attempts. Method: A final sample of 7,094 undergraduates from a large northeastern university, identifying as members of three racial groups (White [67.30%], Black [17.30%], and Asian [15.40%]), completed online questionnaires. Results: White participants reported increased likelihood of endorsing lifetime suicidal ideation and plan, whereas Black participants reported decreased likelihood of these events; no differences were found in rates of lifetime suicide attempts. Black participants' suicidal behavior may involve greater ambivalence of intent. A higher proportion of Asian participants endorsed interpersonal factors as contributing to their suicide attempts, whereas a greater percentage of White participants reported internal contributing factors. Limitations: Findings are limited by the sample size and assessment of lifetime suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Conclusion: The findings present a more nuanced look at attitudes and actions related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors that may inform future research and risk assessment procedures.

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Calati ◽  
P. Courtet ◽  
J. Norton ◽  
K. Ritchie ◽  
S. Artero

AbstractBackgroundPain-related conditions have been reported to play a key role among risk factors for suicide. Headache in particular has been repeatedly associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The aims of this study were: 1) to assess the association between lifetime headache (both non-migrainous headache and migraine) and lifetime suicide attempts (SA); 2) to differentiate, within subjects with lifetime SA, patients with and without lifetime headache in terms of socio-demographic and clinical features.MethodsWe studied 1965 subjects from a cohort of community-dwelling persons aged 65 years and over without dementia (the ESPRIT study), divided in two groups: those with (n = 75), and those without a lifetime SA (n = 1890). Logistic regression analyses were used to compare these groups according to lifetime headache status.ResultsAfter adjusting for gender, living alone, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and depressive, manic/hypomanic and anxiety disorders, lifetime headache frequency was significantly higher in subjects with a lifetime SA compared with controls (OR = 1.92 [1.17–3.15]). Additionally, different factors were identified as being associated with lifetime SA in participants with lifetime headache (female gender, a lower level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insomnia, lifetime major depression) versus participants without headache (glycemia and lifetime major depression).ConclusionsLifetime headache was associated with lifetime SA. Subjects who are women and report the co-occurrence of headache and insomnia as well as lifetime major depression require higher attention and a careful screening for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.


2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (09) ◽  
pp. 1470-1480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna J. Turner ◽  
Evan M. Kleiman ◽  
Matthew K. Nock

AbstractBackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) prospectively predicts suicidal thoughts and behaviors in civilian populations. Despite high rates of suicide among US military members, little is known about the prevalence and course of NSSI, or how NSSI relates to suicidal thoughts and behaviors, in military personnel.MethodsWe conducted secondary analyses of two representative surveys of active-duty soldiers (N = 21 449) and newly enlisted soldiers (N = 38 507) from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS).ResultsThe lifetime prevalence of NSSI is 6.3% (1.2% 12-month prevalence) in active-duty soldiers and 7.9% (1.3% 12-month prevalence) in new soldiers. Demographic risk factors for lifetime NSSI include female sex, younger age, non-Hispanic white ethnicity, never having married, and lower educational attainment. The association of NSSI with temporally primary internalizing and externalizing disorders varies by service history (new v. active-duty soldiers) and gender (men v. women). In both active-duty and new soldiers, NSSI is associated with increased odds of subsequent onset of suicidal ideation [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.66–1.81] and suicide attempts (adjusted OR = 2.02–2.43), although not with the transition from ideation to attempt (adjusted OR = 0.92–1.36). Soldiers with a history of NSSI are more likely to have made multiple suicide attempts, compared with soldiers without NSSI.ConclusionsNSSI is prevalent among US Army soldiers and is associated with significantly increased odds of later suicidal thoughts and behaviors, even after NSSI has resolved. Suicide risk assessments in military populations should screen for history of NSSI.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura S. van Velzen ◽  
Maria R. Dauvermann ◽  
Lejla Colic ◽  
Luca M. Villa ◽  
Hannah S. Savage ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveIdentifying brain differences associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in young people is critical to understanding their development and generating effective approaches to early intervention and prevention. The ENIGMA Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours (ENIGMA-STB) consortium analyzed neuroimaging data harmonized across sites to examine brain morphology associated with STBs in youth.MethodsFirst, we examined associations among regional brain structure and STBs, which were assessed in six samples of youth with mood disorders, using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS; N=577). Second, we combined this sample with a larger sample (total 21 sites) in which STBs were assessed using various instruments. MRI metrics were compared among healthy controls without STBs (HC; N=688), clinical controls without STBs (CC; N=648), and young people with psychiatric diagnoses and current suicidal ideation (N=406). In separate analyses, MRI metrics were compared among HCs (N=335), CCs (N=768), and suicide attempters (N=254).ResultsIn the homogeneous C-SSRS sample, surface area of the frontal pole was lower in young people with mood disorders and history of actual suicide attempts (N=163) than those without (N=394; FDR-p<.001; Cohen’s d=.334). When expanding to more clinically heterogeneous samples, we also found lower surface area of the frontal pole in those with a history of suicide attempts (Cohen’s d=.22).ConclusionsLower frontal pole surface area may represent a vulnerability for a suicide attempt; however, more research is needed to understand the nature of its relationship to suicide risk.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C Rozek ◽  
Shelby N Baker ◽  
Kelsi Rugo ◽  
Victoria Steigerwald ◽  
Lauren M Sippel ◽  
...  

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a well-established risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Historically, guidelines for treating PTSD have recommended against the use of trauma-focused therapies with patients who are high-risk for suicide likely due to concerns about potential suicide-related iatrogenesis, specifically the “triggering” of suicidal behaviors. This systematic review examines evidence for the impact of treatments specifically designed to treat PTSD or suicide on both PTSD- and suicide-related outcomes. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed and a total of 33 articles met full inclusion criteria, of which 23 examined PTSD treatments, 4 examined suicide-focused treatments, and 6 examined combined treatments. PTSD and combined treatments reduced both PTSD- and suicide-related outcomes, with most studies examining Cognitive Processing Therapy or Prolonged Exposure. Suicide-focused treatments (e.g., cognitive therapies for suicide prevention) also reduced suicide-related outcomes, but findings were mixed for their impact on PTSD-related outcomes. Overall, PTSD treatments had the most support, primarily due to a larger number of studies examining their outcomes. This supports current clinical guidelines, which suggest utilizing PTSD treatments for individuals at risk for suicide and who have PTSD. Suicide-focused and combined treatments also appeared to be promising formats although additional research is needed. Future research should seek to compare the effectiveness of the approaches to the treatment of PTSD and suicidal thoughts and behaviors concurrently, as well as to inform guidelines aimed at supporting decisions about the selection of an appropriate treatment approach.


Author(s):  
Robert J. Cramer ◽  
Andrea R. Kaniuka ◽  
Farida N. Yada ◽  
Franck Diaz-Garelli ◽  
Ryan M. Hill ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Mortier ◽  
Gemma Vilagut ◽  
Montse Ferrer ◽  
Consol Serra ◽  
Juan Dios Molina ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Tiffany C. Ho ◽  
Anthony J. Gifuni ◽  
Ian H. Gotlib

AbstractSuicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents. While clinicians and researchers have begun to recognize the importance of considering multidimensional factors in understanding risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) during this developmental period, the role of puberty has been largely ignored. In this review, we contend that the hormonal events that occur during puberty have significant effects on the organization and development of brain systems implicated in the regulation of social stressors, including amygdala, hippocampus, striatum, medial prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex. Guided by previous experimental work in adults, we also propose that the influence of pubertal hormones and social stressors on neural systems related to risk for STBs is especially critical to consider in adolescents with a neurobiological sensitivity to hormonal changes. Furthermore, facets of the pubertal transition, such as pubertal timing, warrant deeper investigation and may help us gain a more comprehensive understanding of sex differences in the neurobiological and psychosocial mechanisms underlying adolescent STBs. Ultimately, advancing our understanding of the pubertal processes that contribute to suicide risk will improve early detection and facilitate the development of more effective, sex-specific, psychiatric interventions for adolescents.


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