Suicidal Mental Imagery: Investigating a Novel Marker of Suicide Risk

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110015
Author(s):  
Hannah R. Lawrence ◽  
Jacqueline Nesi ◽  
Rebecca A. Schwartz-Mette
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Suicide Assessment ◽  
Verbal Thought ◽  
History Of ◽  
Novel Target ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Suicide Plan

Rates of suicidal ideation and behavior are high and increasing in emerging adulthood. Research focused on suicidal ideation as a predictor of suicidal behavior has nearly exclusively conceptualized suicidal ideation as verbal thoughts about suicide. Emerging research suggests, however, that mentally imagining suicide may be even more impairing than verbal thoughts about suicide. Thirty-nine emerging adults with a lifetime history of suicidal cognitions completed self-report assessments of characteristics of their suicidal cognitions, histories of suicide plans and behavior, and the degree to which their suicidal cognitions took the form of mental imagery or verbal thought. Suicidal mental imagery predicted more intense and longer duration of suicidal cognitions, a higher likelihood of having made a suicide plan, and a higher likelihood of having made a suicide attempt over and above suicidal verbal thoughts. Thus, suicidal mental imagery could provide a novel target for suicide assessment and intervention for emerging adults.

Trauma-Related Shame, Sexual Assault Severity, Thwarted Belongingness, and Perceived Burdensomeness Among Female Undergraduate Survivors of Sexual Assault

Crisis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. DeCou ◽  
Stephanie P. Kaplan ◽  
Julie Spencer ◽  
Shannon M. Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Psychosocial Risk ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Female Undergraduate ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
And Behavior

Abstract. Background and Aim: This study evaluated trauma-related shame as a mediator of the association between sexual assault severity and perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Method: A total of 164 female undergraduates who reported attempted or completed sexual assault completed self-report measures of sexual assault, trauma-related shame, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness. Results: Using path analysis, trauma-related shame mediated the association between sexual assault severity and perceived burdensomeness, and between sexual assault severity and thwarted belongingness. Limitations: The findings of this study are limited by the retrospective, self-report, and cross-sectional nature of these data, and do not allow for causal inference. Conclusion: Trauma-related shame warrants additional investigation as a mechanism that explains the association between sexual assault and psychosocial risk factors for suicidal ideation and behavior.

scholarly journals Factors Associated With Ruminative Thinking in Individuals With Gender Dysphoria

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhiordan Cardoso Silva ◽  
Leonardo Romeira Salati ◽  
Anna Paula Villas-Bôas ◽  
Karine Schwarz ◽  
Anna Martha Fontanari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Gender Dysphoria ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Psychological State ◽  
Trans Men ◽  
Gender Affirmation ◽  
History Of ◽  
Trans Women ◽  
Gender Affirmation Surgery ◽  
Brooding And Reflection

This study aimed to examine psychosocial factors and medical history as well as symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress associated with ruminative thinking in transgender people with gender dysphoria (GD) before undergoing gender affirmation surgery (GAS). This study evaluated 189 participants with GD (111 trans women and 78 trans men) from a specialized service for GAS in southern Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and participants were asked to complete self-report questionnaires. We recovered participants' sociodemographic and psychosocial data (e.g., history of sexual abuse, expulsion from home, and history of drug use) and data regarding their clinical history (e.g., medication, history of suicidal ideation and attempted suicide, and HIV status). Further, we implemented the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to examine participants' psychological state, as well as the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS) to assess ruminative thinking, which includes brooding and reflection. The predictor variables were those that exhibited a minimum level of significance of p ≤ 0.05 in multivariate linear regression. The ruminative thinking scores for trans women were higher than those of trans men (Brooding p = 0.014; Reflection p = 0.052).In the multivariate model, suicidal ideation, moderate depression, and severe/very severe anxiety were associated with both brooding and reflection. Feminine gender identity and stress symptoms moderated only brooding, while anxiety symptoms moderated only reflection. Our findings show that trans women had the highest ruminative thinking scores, and that depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal ideation were associated with ruminative thinking in total sample. Psychological symptoms should be examined in the context of gender affirmation surgery to minimize the possibility of adverse mental health outcomes. Follow-up studies are required to measure ruminative thinking levels more accurately and to identify its predictors.

scholarly journals Impact of Anger on Suicidal Ideation: Mediating Role of Perceived Emotional Distress in Late Adolescents and Emerging Adults with Psychological Problems

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-312
Author(s):  
Soulat Khan ◽  
Tahira Mubashar ◽  
Tanvir Akhtar ◽  
Tayyab Ali Butt
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Psychological Problems ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Late Adolescents ◽  
Mediating Role

The present study addresses impact of anger on suicidal ideation with the mediating role of perceived emotional distress in 40 late adolescents and emerging adults (Girls = 24, Boys = 16) with psychological problems. Participants’ aged between 18 to 25 years (M = 21.65, SD = 1.84). The sample was recruited from counseling centers of two public sector universities. Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Inventory (Osman, Gotierrez, Kropper, Barrios, Chiros, 1998), Perceived Emotional Distress inventory (Moscoso, 2011) and Anger Self-Report (Burney, 2001) were used to assess study variables. Findings indicated that anger and emotional distress had significant positive relationship with suicidal ideation and significant negative relationship with protective thoughts and ideation. Mediation Analysis through Process Macro revealed that perceived emotional distress significantly mediates the relationship between anger and suicidal ideations. No gender differences were found between study variables. The study outcomes highlighted that future strategies for prevention of suicidal ideation must focus on managing emotional distress and anger.

Differences in neural response to extinction recall in young adults with or without history of behavioral inhibition

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomer Shechner ◽  
Nathan A. Fox ◽  
Jamie A. Mash ◽  
Johanna M. Jarcho ◽  
Gang Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Behavioral Inhibition ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Subgenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Manifest Anxiety

AbstractBehavioral inhibition (BI) is a temperament identified in early childhood that is associated with risk for anxiety disorders, yet only about half of behaviorally inhibited children manifest anxiety later in life. We compared brain function and behavior during extinction recall in a sample of nonanxious young adults characterized in childhood with BI (n = 22) or with no BI (n = 28). Three weeks after undergoing fear conditioning and extinction, participants completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging extinction recall task assessing memory and threat differentiation for conditioned stimuli. While self-report and psychophysiological measures of differential conditioning and extinction were similar across groups, BI-related differences in brain function emerged during extinction recall. Childhood BI was associated with greater activation in subgenual anterior cingulate cortex in response to cues signaling safety. This pattern of results may reflect neural correlates that promote resilience against anxiety in a temperamentally at-risk population.

Internet-Based Screening for Suicidal Ideation in Common Mental Disorders

Crisis ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Hemelrijk ◽  
Wouter van Ballegooijen ◽  
Tara Donker ◽  
Annemieke van Straten ◽  
Ad Kerkhof
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Suicidal Risk ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Sample Method ◽  
And Behavior

Background: Common mental disorders have been found to be related to suicidal ideation and behavior. Research in the field of web-based interventions for common mental disorders, however, usually excludes participants with a suicidal risk, although a large proportion of participants might suffer from suicidal ideation. Aims: To investigate the prevalence of suicidal ideation in common mental disorders in an online sample. Method: In total, 502 participants completed nine web-based questionnaires on common mental disorders, of which 120 were also interviewed by telephone to obtain a diagnosis. Logistic regression analyses were applied to investigate associations between disorders and suicidal ideation. Results: Based on web-based self-report, 53% of participants had some form of suicidal ideation. Fewer participants reported suicidal ideation during the interview by telephone. Depression (multivariate odds ratio 7.1), generalized anxiety disorder (2.1), social phobia (2.1), and posttraumatic stress disorder (1.7) were significantly associated with suicidal ideation, while a higher number of comorbid common mental disorders increased the risk. Conclusion: Researchers and clinicians should be aware that one out of every two helpseekers on the internet with common mental disorders may have suicidal ideation. Comorbidity of two or more disorders greatly increase the risk of suicidal ideation.

scholarly journals Role of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness in the relationship between violent daydreaming and suicidal ideation in two adult samples

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Chu ◽  
Megan L. Rogers ◽  
Anna R. Gai ◽  
Thomas E. Joiner
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Interpersonal Theory ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Despite evidence that violent daydreaming is a correlate of suicidal ideation, no research has examined the mechanisms underlying this association. The interpersonal theory of suicide may provide insight. This theory postulates that individuals with high suicidal desire experience intractable feelings of perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB). Violent daydreaming may fuel negative attitudes toward others and oneself and turn attention away from loved ones, thereby increasing feelings that one is a burden on others (PB) and socially disconnected (TB). However, no studies have tested TB and PB as explanatory mechanisms. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between violent daydreaming, PB, TB, suicidal ideation, and depression in two samples (n=818). Design/methodology/approach Study 1 was comprised of general undergraduates, and Study 2 selected for undergraduates with a history of ideation. Self-report measures were administered and indirect effects analyses were conducted. Findings In both studies, violent daydreaming was associated with increased feelings of PB, TB, and ideation severity. Consistent with the interpersonal theory, TB and PB were significant parallel mediators of the relationship between violent daydreaming and suicidal ideation, beyond sex and age. In contrast to Study 1, results were no longer significant in Study 2 after accounting for depression. Originality/value This was the first study to test TB and PB as mechanisms underlying the relationship between violent daydreaming and suicide risk. Findings highlight the importance of monitoring and addressing violent daydreams and interpersonal functioning throughout treatment to mitigate risk.

Self-Disgust and Its Relationship With Lifetime Suicidal Ideation and Behavior

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 344-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Schienle ◽  
Daniela Schwab ◽  
Carina Höfler ◽  
Harald H. Freudenthaler
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Disgust Proneness ◽  
And Behavior

Abstract. Background: The emotion disgust is typically directed toward stimuli in the external environment, but sometimes people develop self-directed disgust responses. Aims: The current questionnaire study focused on the role of self-disgust in lifetime suicidal ideation and behavior. Method: A total of 1,167 individuals participated in an Internet-based survey containing self-report measures of self-disgust, externally directed disgust proneness, coping styles, diagnoses of mental disorders, and suicide risk. Hierarchical regression analyses as well as mediation analyses were computed. Results: Self-disgust was the most relevant predictor of suicide risk among the assessed variables. Self-disgust was negatively associated with the use of support by others, and positively associated with evasive coping (self-blame, venting, denial), which in turn was positively associated with suicidality. Limitations: This cross-sectional study provided information on the relationship between self-disgust and suicidality in a self-selected sample. Longitudinal studies are warranted. Conclusion: Future studies are required to replicate these findings. Additionally, stronger research designs are needed in order to investigate whether self-disgust should be targeted in suicide prevention programs and interventions.

Prevalence and correlates of suicidal thought and self-destructive behavior among an elderly hospital population in Iran

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1402-1408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahra Ekramzadeh ◽  
Ali Javadpour ◽  
Brian Draper ◽  
Arash Mani ◽  
Adrienne Withall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Destructive Behavior ◽  
History Of ◽  
Harmful Behavior ◽  
And Behavior

ABSTRACTBackground: Few studies have examined suicidal ideation and behavior in hospitalized physically ill elderly patients, a group potentially at high risk. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for suicide ideation, and direct and indirect self-destructive behaviors among a sample of elderly inpatients.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009; 650 inpatients aged 60 years and over were screened from various medical services in teaching hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Suicidal ideation and behavior were measured with the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI) and the Harmful Behavior Scale (HBS). Depression was measured with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), medical burden with the geriatric version of the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS-G), life events with the Paykel Life Event Scale, and social support with the Perceived Social Support Scale.Result: Of the 650 patients screened with a mean age of 70.5 years (SD ± 7.5), 570 met inclusion criteria and of these 123 (21.6%) reported suicidal ideation on the BSSI and 80 (14.4%) had at least one self-destructive behavior included in the HBS. There was a significant correlation between suicide ideation and harmful behaviors (r = 0.503, p = 0.001). In a regression analysis, depressive symptoms, increased burden of medical conditions, marital status, history of substance use, history of traumatic life events, lack of perceived social support, and poor education were associated with both suicide ideation and harmful behavior. From demographic variables, living without a spouse and unemployment were predictors of suicidal ideation and behavior.Conclusion: Hospitalized, physically ill elderly patients have high rates of suicidal ideation and self-destructive behavior and these vary according to psychosocial and clinical factors. The general hospital is therefore a potential site for the recognition of suicidal individuals and implementation of proximal suicide prevention strategies.

A tool to predict suicidal ideation and behavior in bipolar disorder: The Concise Health Risk Tracking Self-Report

2016 ◽  
Vol 192 ◽  
pp. 212-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noreen A. Reilly-Harrington ◽  
Richard C. Shelton ◽  
Masoud Kamali ◽  
Dustin J. Rabideau ◽  
Leah W. Shesler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Self Report ◽  
And Behavior

Suicidal imagery, history of suicidality, and acquired capability in young adults

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara C Holaday ◽  
Amy M Brausch
Keyword(s):  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Acquired Capability ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
History Of ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Percent Female

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of suicide-related mental imagery in suicidal behavior. It was hypothesized that greater frequency and vividness of suicide-related imagery would be associated with more suicidal behaviors, and acquired capability for suicide was expected to mediate this relationship. Hypotheses were tested by surveying 237 undergraduate students (59 percent female; mean age=20) who completed self-report measures that assessed suicidal cognitions, acquired capability for suicide, and history of self-harm behaviors. Design/methodology/approach – Hypotheses were tested by surveying 237 undergraduate students (59 percent female; mean age=20) who completed self-report measures that assessed suicidal cognitions, acquired capability for suicide, and history of self-harm behaviors. Findings – Results suggested that frequency and vividness of suicide-related imagery were positively correlated with suicidality. Acquired capability was not related to study variables; thus additional mediational analysis was unwarranted. Originality/value – Few studies have examined suicidal imagery and how it relates to actual self-harm behavior. The current study provides an exploratory view of features of imagery related to suicidal thoughts; findings imply that understanding mental imagery may play an important role in clinical risk assessment and treatment for suicidality.

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