Lifetime Suicidal Behaviors and Career Characteristics Among U.S. Army Soldiers: Results from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS)

AbstractBackground and AimsSubstance dependence diagnoses (SDs) are important risk factors for suicidal behaviors. We investigated the associations of multiple SDs with different suicidal behaviors and tested how genetic background moderates these associations.DesignMultivariate logistic regression to investigate the associations of SDs with suicidal behaviors; structured linear mixed model to study multivariate gene– environment interactions.SettingThe Yale-Penn cohort was recruited to investigate the genetics of SDs. The Army STARRS (Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers) cohort was recruited to evaluate mental health risk and resilience for suicidal behaviors among Army personnel.ParticipantsYale-Penn participants (N=15,557) were assessed via the Semi-Structured Assessment for Drug Dependence and Alcoholism. Army STARRS participants (N=11,236) were evaluated using the self-administered Composite International Diagnostic Interview Screening Scales.MeasurementLifetime self-reported suicidal behaviors (ideation, SI; planning; attempt, SA); Lifetime DSM-IV diagnoses and criteria for dependence on alcohol, cannabis, cocaine (CoD), opioid (OD), and nicotine (ND) (Yale-Penn); substance use disorder (SUD) (Army STARRS).FindingsIn Yale-Penn, lifetime polysubstance dependence was strongly associated with lifetime suicidal behaviors: individuals with five SDs showed increased odds ranging from OR=6.77 (95%CI=5.74-7.99) for SI to OR=3.61 (95%CI=2.7-4.86) for SA. In Army STARRS, SUD was associated with increased odds ranging from OR=2.88 (95%CI=2.6-3.19) for SI to OR=3.92 (95%CI=3.19-4.81) for SA. In Yale-Penn, we identified multivariate gene–environment interactions (Bayes factors, BF > 0) of SI with respect to a gene cluster on chromosome 16 (LCAT, p=1.82×10−7; TSNAXIP1, p=2.13×10−7; CENPT, p=2.32×10−7; PARD6A, p=5.57×10−7) for OD (BF=12.2), CoD (BF=12.1), ND (BF=9.2), and polysubstance dependence (BF=2.1).ConclusionsComorbidity of multiple SDs is a significant suicide risk factor and heritability of suicidal behaviors is partially moderated by multivariate gene interactions.

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Risk Factors and Mediators of Suicidal Ideation Among Korean Adolescents

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000438 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 4-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Yi Jin Kim ◽

Sung Seek Moon ◽

Jang Hyun Lee ◽

Joon Kyung Kim

Keyword(s):

High School Students ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Suicidal Behaviors ◽

Thwarted Belongingness ◽

Perceived Burdensomeness ◽

Korean Adolescents ◽

Related Stress

Abstract. Background: A significant number of Korean adolescents have suicidal ideations and it is more prevalent among adolescents than any other age group in Korea. Aims: This study was conducted to attain a better understanding of the contributing factors to suicidal ideation among Korean adolescents. Method: We recruited 569 high school students in Grades 10 and 11 in Pyeongtaek, Korea. The Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation was used to measure suicidal ideation as the outcome variable. The Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the School Related Stress Scale, the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire, and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance questions were used to measure thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, hopelessness, school-related stress, bullying, and previous suicidal behaviors, respectively. Data analyses included descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling. Results: The findings suggest that perceived burdensomeness, hopelessness, school-related stress, and previous suicidal behaviors have significant direct effects on suicidal ideation. Hopelessness fully mediated the relation between thwarted belongingness and suicidal ideation, and partially mediated between perceived burdensomeness, school-related stress, and suicidal ideation. Conclusion: These findings provide more specific directions for a multidimensional suicide prevention program in order to be successful in reducing suicide rates among Korean adolescents.

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