A Qualitative Study of Potential Suicide Risk Factors Among Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Soldiers Returning to the Continental United States (CONUS).

OBJECTIVE: A qualitative study among Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Soldiers was conducted to explore potential constructs underlying suicide according to the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide (IPTS); these include burdensomeness, failed belonging, and acquired capability. METHODS: Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with 68 Soldiers at 3 months post-OEF/OIF deployment. Soldiers were asked about changes in their experiences of pain, burdensomeness, and lack of belonging. The methodology employed was descriptive phenomenological. RESULTS: Transcripts were reviewed and themes related to the IPTS constructs emerged. Soldiers' postdeployment transition experiences included higher pain tolerance, chronic pain, emotional reactivity, emotional numbing and distancing, changes in physical functioning, combat guilt, discomfort with care seeking, and difficulties reintegrating into family and society. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the utility of the IPTS in understanding precursors to suicide associated with transition from deployment, as well as treatment strategies that may reduce risk in Soldiers during reintegration.

Sustaining enthusiasm in the classroom: reinvestment strategies that work.

OBJECTIVE: To identify reinvestment strategies of 11 senior health-education faculty from 3 degree programs. METHODS: Data from individual, in-depth interviews were inductively analyzed for content. RESULTS: The identified strategies grouped around 6 themes: growth and success in work, realization of an optimal fit into profession, investment into interpersonal relationships, focus on stimulating and uplifting experiences, pursuit of professional/personal balance, and problems and coping. CONCLUSIONS: Reinvestment is a very complex process that may be mediated by frequent experience of positive emotions. Further research needs to employ a positive perspective and investigate variables from different levels of analysis.