Abstract Objective The purpose of this investigation was two-fold: first, we examined associations between suicidal ideation, maladaptive sleep patterns and abnormal sleep behaviors in a sleep center ...population, an understudied population in the domain of suicide research; and then, we explored whether significant associations remained after accounting for the possible influence of depressive symptoms. Method Data were analyzed from intake information obtained from 1584 adult patients presenting at a community-based private sleep medical center. The sample was parsed into a Suicidal Ideation (SI) group ( N = 211) and No Suicidal Ideation (NSI) group ( N = 1373). Comparisons of these groups were made on measures of self-reported sleep complaints, habits, and behaviors, suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, and associated psychopathology. Results Approximately 13% of participants reported suicidal ideation. Clinically significant suicidal ideation was present in 4.5% of the sample. Compared to the NSI group, the SI group showed a pervasive pattern of significantly greater frequency or severity of sleep problems in areas of insomnia, nightmares and other parasomnia behaviors, poor sleep quality, and sleep-related psychophysiologic conditioning as well as worse sleep-related impairment and quality of life. Several relationships were significant after controlling for depressive symptoms. Discussion Suicidal ideation was consistently associated with a broad array of sleep complaints, even when controlling for level of depressive symptoms. As these self-reported sleep disturbances are treatable sleep disorders, future research should examine the efficacy of sleep and behavioral medicine for reducing the risk of suicidal ideation.
This Viewpoint explains reasons why US suicide rates may rise in tandem with the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and describes opportunities to expand research and care.
The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide Van Orden, Kimberly A; Witte, Tracy K; Cukrowicz, Kelly C ...
Psychological review,
04/2010, Volume:
117, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Suicidal behavior is a major problem worldwide and, at the same time, has received relatively little empirical attention. This relative lack of empirical attention may be due in part to a relative ...absence of theory development regarding suicidal behavior. The current article presents the interpersonal theory of suicidal behavior. We propose that the most dangerous form of suicidal desire is caused by the simultaneous presence of two interpersonal constructs-thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness (and hopelessness about these states)-and further that the capability to engage in suicidal behavior is separate from the desire to engage in suicidal behavior. According to the theory, the capability for suicidal behavior emerges, via habituation and opponent processes, in response to repeated exposure to physically painful and/or fear-inducing experiences. In the current article, the theory's hypotheses are more precisely delineated than in previous presentations (
Joiner, 2005
), with the aim of inviting scientific inquiry and potential falsification of the theory's hypotheses.
Full text
Available for:
CEKLJ, FFLJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PEFLJ
Background
The disruptions to daily life caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic may have impacted mental health, particularly mood disorders. This study aimed to compare ...prevalence rates of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder in national samples in the U.S. before and during the pandemic.
Methods
Participants (n = 336,525) were from U.S. Census Bureau‐administered nationally representative probability samples, one from the first half of 2019 and four during the pandemic in April and May 2020. All participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire‐2 screening for depressive disorder and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐2 screening for anxiety disorders.
Results
Compared to U.S. adults in 2019, U.S. adults in April and May 2020 were more than three times as likely to screen positive for depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, or one or both, with more than one out of three screening positive for one or both. The prevalence of anxiety decreased slightly between the April 23–May 4, 2020 and the May 21–26, 2020 administrations, while the prevalence of depression increased slightly.
Conclusions
U.S. adults in 2020 are considerably more likely to screen positive for mood disorders than in 2019, with anxiety declining and depression increasing from April to May.
First responders—police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and paramedics—experience significant job-related stressors and exposures that may confer increased risk for ...mental health morbidities (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD, suicidal thoughts and behaviors) and hastened mortality (e.g., death by suicide). Inherent in these occupations, however, are also factors (e.g., camaraderie, pre-enlistment screening) that may inoculate against the development or maintenance of psychiatric conditions. Several reviews of the literature have documented the prevalence and potency of PTSD among first responders; the value of these extant reviews is considerable. Nonetheless, the literature has not been systematically described with regard to suicidality. In this systematic review, we present 63 quantitative studies examining suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and/or fatalities among first responders; identify population-specific risk and protective factors; and pinpoint strengths and weaknesses of the existing literature. Findings reveal elevated risk for suicide among first responders; however, studies utilizing more rigorous methodologies (e.g., longitudinal designs, probability sampling strategies) are sorely needed. First responders have an armamentarium of resources to take care of others; it is the duty of researchers, clinicians, and the public to aid in taking care of their health as well, in part by reducing suicide risk.
•Police, firefighters, and EMTs/paramedics experience significant stressors.•Suicide risk may be elevated among these first responders.•We review studies examining rates and correlates of suicide among first responders.
Suicidal Desire and the Capability for Suicide Van Orden, Kimberly A; Witte, Tracy K; Gordon, Kathryn H ...
Journal of consulting and clinical psychology,
02/2008, Volume:
76, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior (
T. E. Joiner, 2005
) proposes that an individual will not die by suicide unless he or she has both the desire to die by suicide and the ...ability to do so. Three studies test the theory's hypotheses. In Study 1, the interaction of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness predicted current suicidal ideation. In Study 2, greater levels of acquired capability were found among individuals with greater numbers of past attempts. Results also indicated that painful and provocative experiences significantly predicted acquired capability scores. In Study 3, the interaction of acquired capability and perceived burdensomeness predicted clinician-rated risk for suicidal behavior. Implications for the etiology, assessment, and treatment of suicidal behavior are discussed.
Full text
Available for:
CEKLJ, FFLJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PEFLJ
Connecting suicidal individuals to appropriate mental health care services is a key component of suicide prevention efforts. This review aims to critically discuss the extant literature on ...help-seeking and mental health service utilization among individuals at elevated risk for suicide, as well as to outline challenges and future directions for research in this area. Across studies, the rate of mental health service use for those with past-year suicide ideation, plans, and/or attempts was approximately 29.5% based on weighted averages, with a lack of perceived need for services, preference for self-management, fear of hospitalization, and structural factors (e.g., time, finances) identified as key barriers to care. Studies also revealed facilitators to care, which include mental health literacy, positive views of services, and encouragement from family or friends to seek support. To address these low rates of help-seeking and barriers to care, a number of interventions have been developed, including psychoeducation-based programs, peer and gatekeeper training, and screening-based approaches. Despite these efforts, it appears that work is still needed to gauge the impact of these interventions on behavioral outcomes and to more rigorously test their effectiveness. Additional implications for future research on help-seeking among suicidal individuals are discussed.
•Mental health service use among suicidal individuals is notably low.•There are many significant barriers to help-seeking in this population.•A number of interventions to increase service use have been developed.•Additional research is needed to understand how to increase help-seeking.
Rumination has been implicated as a risk factor for suicidal ideation and attempts, yet the literature to date has not been synthesized. We conducted a meta-analysis of the association between ...rumination and both suicidal ideation and attempts to consolidate the existing literature (k = 29). Results indicated that the relationships between global rumination (k = 13; Hedge's g = .74, p < .001, 95% CI .45, 1.04), brooding (k = 12; Hedge's g = .63, p < .001, 95% CI .35, .90), and reflection (k = 12; Hedge's g = .38, p = .002, 95% CI .10, .65) with suicidal ideation were significant. Associations between global rumination (k = 3; Hedge's g = .26, p < .001, 95% CI .08, .44) and brooding (k = 4; Hedge's g = .47, p = .004, 95% CI .02, .91) and suicide attempts were significant, but reflection (k = 4; Hedge's g = .09, p = .646, 95% CI −.54, .72) was unrelated. However, given the limited studies included in suicide attempt analyses-and the exclusive use of cross-sectional designs and heterogeneity with regard to samples and measures-these parameters should be taken with caution. Generally, age, gender, race/ethnicity, and year of publication were not moderators, and there was little evidence for publication bias across effects, with the exception of the effect of global rumination on suicidal ideation. Several future research directions are discussed.
Past work has evidenced increased utilization of mental health services on college campuses, as well as rising rates of mood and suicide-related pathology in adolescents and young adults in recent ...years. We examined whether such findings are reflective of large-scale, nationwide trends in college student mental health in the past decade.
We examined trends in mood, anxiety, and suicide-related outcomes among U.S. college students from 2007 to 2018 across two large national datasets: (1) the National College Health Assessment (n = 610,543; mean age = 21.25 years; 67.7% female; and 72.0% white) and (2) the Healthy Minds Study (n = 177,692; 86% students aged 18–22 years; 57% female; and 74% white). Participants, randomly selected by their educational institution, completed self-report measures of past-year mood, anxiety, nonsuicidal self-injury, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
In both samples, rates of depression, anxiety, nonsuicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts markedly increased over the assessed years, with rates doubling over the period in many cases. Anger, low flourishing, and suicide plans, each assessed in only one dataset, also exhibited upward trends.
Findings demonstrate a broad worsening of mental health among U.S. college students over the past decade, a concerning result meriting further attention and intervention.
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