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1.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 120(17): e2215434120, 2023 04 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37071683

ABSTRACT

This study aims to identify the timescale of suicidal thinking, leveraging real-time monitoring data and a number of different analytic approaches. Participants were 105 adults with past week suicidal thoughts who completed a 42-d real-time monitoring study (total number of observations = 20,255). Participants completed two forms of real-time assessments: traditional real-time assessments (spaced hours apart each day) and high-frequency assessments (spaced 10 min apart over 1 h). We found that suicidal thinking changes rapidly. Both descriptive statistics and Markov-switching models indicated that elevated states of suicidal thinking lasted on average 1 to 3 h. Individuals exhibited heterogeneity in how often and for how long they reported elevated suicidal thinking, and our analyses suggest that different aspects of suicidal thinking operated on different timescales. Continuous-time autoregressive models suggest that current suicidal intent is predictive of future intent levels for 2 to 3 h, while current suicidal desire is predictive of future suicidal desire levels for 20 h. Multiple models found that elevated suicidal intent has on average shorter duration than elevated suicidal desire. Finally, inferences about the within-person dynamics of suicidal thinking on the basis of statistical modeling were shown to depend on the frequency at which data was sampled. For example, traditional real-time assessments estimated the duration of severe suicidal states of suicidal desire as 9.5 h, whereas the high-frequency assessments shifted the estimated duration to 1.4 h.


Subject(s)
Models, Statistical , Suicidal Ideation , Adult , Humans , Time Factors , Intention
2.
J Sleep Res ; : e14133, 2024 Jan 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38164094

ABSTRACT

Researchers at the intersection of sleep and suicide research have advocated for investigation of sleep disturbances as a therapeutic target for the purposes of treating and preventing suicide. This study aims to provide the first systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of sleep interventions to treat suicidal ideation. This systematic review and meta-analysis, registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, was conducted in PsycINFO, through Ovid. A sample of eight articles were deemed eligible and a total of 21 effect sizes were included. Egger's test suggested that no publication bias was present (b = 0.3695; p = 0.0852). The pooled effect size for sleep treatments on suicidal ideation was small (g = -0.0931, p = 0.3047). Significant heterogeneity was present (I2 = 44.13%), indicating the need for moderator analyses. Treatment type (medication versus psychotherapy; g = -0.2487, p = 0.3368), sex (g = -0.0007; p = 0.9263), and race (g = -0.0081; p = 0.1624) were all considered as moderators and were all found to be insignificant. This meta-analysis revealed that initial studies exploring the efficacy of sleep interventions on suicidal ideation demonstrate small effect sizes. Despite this, the handful of studies included in this review nonetheless highlight this as an important area for continued exploration. The use of larger and more diverse samples, as well as intentionally designing sleep-related interventions to improve ideation and behaviour, have the potential to enhance the efficacy of sleep interventions for this novel purpose.

3.
Inj Prev ; 30(2): 171-175, 2024 Mar 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38050010

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Perceptions of safety on campus may be related to a variety of factors such as concerns about campus violence, especially firearm violence, and mental health, particularly suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STBs). The present analyses aim to describe associations between feelings of safety, concerns about firearms on campus and STBs among college students. METHODS: This study uses data from the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment wave III (n=24 682 participants across k=29 schools). Multilevel logistic regressions and cumulative link mixed models examine the associations between feelings of safety, concerns about firearm violence on campus and presence of STBs in the past year. RESULTS: Participants who reported being concerned about firearm violence felt significantly less safe. Feeling unsafe at night was significantly associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Individuals with concerns about firearm safety on campus were up to 42% more likely to report suicidal ideation compared with those reporting they were not at all concerned about campus firearm violence. DISCUSSION: With associations highlighting increased risk of STBs among those with reduced safety feelings and heightened concerns about firearms, there is a need for college campuses to intervene and promote campus safety, with particular consideration for the presence of firearms on campus and the implications of allowing such weapons to be present in environments with increasing instances of firearm violence.


Subject(s)
Firearms , Suicidal Ideation , Humans , United States/epidemiology , Suicide, Attempted/psychology , Logistic Models , Students
4.
Int J Eat Disord ; 56(5): 885-887, 2023 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37057346

ABSTRACT

Schleider et al. (2023, International Journal of Eating Disorders) provide an overview and compelling rationale for incorporating single-session interventions (SSIs) into the eating disorder field. As intervention researchers working with complex mental health problems, including suicide risk, we agree that there is much to be gained by developing and deploying SSIs on a broader scale and for historically difficult-to-treat problems. In this commentary, we describe some additional strengths of the SSI approach and highlight their potential in the use of stepped care models of treatment. Ultimately, determining who could benefit from a low dose of treatment and for whom longer treatment is warranted could pave the way for addressing the current mental health burden.


Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders , Mental Health , Humans
5.
Int J Eat Disord ; 56(9): 1785-1794, 2023 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37309576

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Previous work has outlined cognitive beliefs about exercise in general, but very little is known about momentary cognitions while engaging in pathological exercise. The primary aim of this study was to explore thought content during exercise and to test whether these thoughts predicted later engagement in eating disorder behaviors. We also tested associations between thoughts and specific exercise activity. METHOD: We monitored 31 women with clinically significant eating psychopathology for 3 weeks via ecological momentary assessment as they reported on their exercise and eating disorder behaviors, and thoughts about shape, weight, or calories during exercise. Thoughts were self-reported upon cessation of each exercise session. RESULTS: Thinking about weight loss during exercise predicted later engagement in body-checking behaviors. Weight-bearing exercise was associated with a decreased likelihood of thinking about calories but an increased likelihood of thinking about shape during exercise. DISCUSSION: These findings show that shape and weight thoughts are present during exercise and that their influence on eating disorder behaviors may exist on a much briefer time scale (i.e., within a day) than previous studies show. Clinically, future studies may seek to test interventions aimed at changing or restructuring cognitions during exercise to help shape adaptive exercise behavior during and after treatment. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study measuring thoughts during pathological exercise in real-time among those with eating disorder psychopathology. The results show that thinking about weight loss during exercise might increase the likelihood of engaging in body-checking behaviors. Findings will inform the development of treatment approaches to help those in recovery from eating disorders re-engage with exercise.


Subject(s)
Ecological Momentary Assessment , Feeding and Eating Disorders , Humans , Female , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Cognition , Weight Loss
6.
J Clin Psychol ; 79(12): 2974-2985, 2023 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37672631

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviors are major public health concerns in the United States and are difficult to treat and predict. Risk factors that are incrementally informative are needed to improve prediction and inform prevention of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Uncontrollability of suicidal ideation, one parameter of suicidal ideation, is one such candidate. METHOD: In the current study, we assessed the predictive power of uncontrollability of suicidal ideation, over and above overall suicidal ideation, for future suicidal ideation in a large sample of active-duty service members. A total of 1044 suicidal military service members completed baseline assessments, of whom 664 (63.6%) completed 3-month follow-up assessments. RESULTS: While baseline overall suicidal ideation itself was the strongest predictor of future suicidal ideation, uncontrollability of suicidal ideation added some incremental explanatory power. CONCLUSION: Further study of uncontrollability of suicidal thought is needed to elucidate its impact on suicidal outcomes.


Subject(s)
Military Personnel , Suicidal Ideation , Humans , United States , Suicide, Attempted/prevention & control , Risk Factors
7.
Psychother Res ; 33(4): 455-467, 2023 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36305345

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Prior studies of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for borderline personality disorder (BPD) have yielded heterogeneous findings on what factors differentiate individuals with or without sufficient treatment response, highlighting the need for further research. METHOD: We investigated a sample of 105 individuals with BPD receiving a 6-month course of DBT. Participants were categorized as sufficient or insufficient responders using clinical and statistical change indices (based on emotion dysregulation, BPD symptom severity, utilization of DBT skills, and functional impairment). Sociodemographic, clinical severity, and treatment process factors were tested as potential predictors of treatment response using a machine learning approach (LASSO regression). RESULTS: Two cross-validated LASSO regression models predicted treatment response (AUCs > .75). They suggested that higher homework completion rate, retention in treatment, and greater baseline severity were the most important predictors of DBT treatment response indicated by BPD symptom severity and utilization of DBT skills. Favorable effects of some aspects of therapeutic alliance during initial sessions were also found. CONCLUSIONS: Future research may benefit from consolidating the criteria of treatment response, identifying clinically relevant variables, and testing the generalizability of findings to enhance knowledge of insufficient treatment response in DBT for BPD.


Subject(s)
Borderline Personality Disorder , Dialectical Behavior Therapy , Therapeutic Alliance , Humans , Borderline Personality Disorder/therapy
8.
Br J Psychiatry ; 220(1): 41-43, 2022 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35045901

ABSTRACT

Researchers, clinicians and patients are increasingly using real-time monitoring methods to understand and predict suicidal thoughts and behaviours. These methods involve frequently assessing suicidal thoughts, but it is not known whether asking about suicide repeatedly is iatrogenic. We tested two questions about this approach: (a) does repeatedly assessing suicidal thinking over short periods of time increase suicidal thinking, and (b) is more frequent assessment of suicidal thinking associated with more severe suicidal thinking? In a real-time monitoring study (n = 101 participants, n = 12 793 surveys), we found no evidence to support the notion that repeated assessment of suicidal thoughts is iatrogenic.


Subject(s)
Suicidal Ideation , Suicide , Humans , Iatrogenic Disease , Incidence , Surveys and Questionnaires
9.
Br J Clin Psychol ; 61(4): 1219-1235, 2022 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35912940

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Suicidal ideation is a pervasive and painful experience that varies considerably in its phenomenology. Here, we consider how one key risk variable might inform our understanding of variation in suicidal ideation: emotion-related impulsivity, the trait-like tendency towards unconstrained speech, behaviour, and cognition in the face of intense emotions. We hypothesized that emotion-related impulsivity would be tied to specific features, including severity, perceived lack of controllability, more rapidly fluctuating course, higher scores on a measure of acute suicidal affective disturbance, and more emotional and cognitive disturbance as antecedents. METHODS: We recruited two samples of adults (Ns = 421, 221) through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), with oversampling of those with suicidal ideation. Both samples completed psychometrically sound self-report measures online to assess emotion- and non-emotion-related dimensions of impulsivity and characteristics of suicidal ideation. RESULTS: One form of emotion-related impulsivity related to the severity, uncontrollability, dynamic course, and affective and cognitive precursors of ideation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite limitations of the cross-sectional design and self-report measures, the current findings highlight the importance of specificity in considering key dimensions of impulsivity and suicidal ideation.


Subject(s)
Impulsive Behavior , Suicidal Ideation , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Emotions , Humans , Self Report
10.
J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol ; 51(3): 295-311, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34570668

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Interpersonal negative life events (NLEs) have been linked to risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, little is known about how this risk is conferred over the short term and the mechanisms linking interpersonal NLEs to suicide risk, particularly in adolescents. This study used an intensive longitudinal design to examine thwarted belongingness with family and friends as potential mechanisms linking interpersonal NLEs to suicidal thoughts. METHOD: Forty-eight adolescents (Mage = 14.96 years; 64.6% female, 77.1% White), who recently received acute psychiatric care for suicide risk, were followed intensely for 28 days after discharge. Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment was used to measure presence of interpersonal NLEs at the day level, fluctuations in thwarted belongingness with family and friends (separately) within day, and fluctuations in suicidal thoughts within day. A multi-level structural equation model was utilized to examine family thwarted belongingness and friend thwarted belongingness as parallel mediators in the relationship between interpersonal NLEs and next-day suicidal thoughts. RESULTS: Significant direct effects were observed between interpersonal NLEs and family thwarted belongingness, family thwarted belongingness and suicidal thoughts, and friend thwarted belongingness and suicidal thoughts. In addition, family, but not friend, thwarted belongingness significantly mediated the association between interpersonal NLEs and next-day suicidal thoughts. CONCLUSIONS: Interpersonal NLEs predicted greater suicidal thoughts over the short term (next day) in high-risk adolescents. Findings suggest how interpersonal NLEs may confer risk for suicidal thoughts - by reducing feelings of family belongingness. Future research is needed to examine how modifying belongingness may reduce suicide risk in adolescents.


Subject(s)
Suicidal Ideation , Suicide , Adolescent , Female , Friends , Humans , Interpersonal Relations , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Psychological Theory , Risk Factors , Suicide/psychology
11.
J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol ; 51(1): 32-48, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32239986

ABSTRACT

Objective: The study purpose was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of intensive ecological momentary assessment (EMA) among high-risk adolescents with suicidal thoughts and behaviors following discharge from acute psychiatric care.Method: Fifty-three adolescents, 12-18 years old, and their parents, were recruited following discharge from acute psychiatric care for suicide risk. The study included a baseline assessment (adolescent and parent), 28 days of EMA surveys (5x per day) and wrist actigraphy (adolescent), and an interview at the end of the 28-day monitoring period (adolescent). Adolescents' outpatient clinicians were also surveyed about the study.Results: Study feasibility was indicated by a reasonable enrollment rate, high adherence to wearing the actigraphy device, and good adherence to EMA surveys (highest in the first week with significant drop-off in subsequent weeks). Adolescents reported their overall experience in the study was positive, the questions were understandable, their responses to questions were generally accurate, and the surveys were minimally burdensome. The study procedures did not appear to be iatrogenic; suicide attempts and rehospitalizations were not study related and occurred at a rate comparable to other adolescents at the recruitment site. Adolescents' clinicians reported that the study was somewhat positive and minimally burdensome for them, and somewhat positive for their patients and families.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that intensive EMA designs are feasible and acceptable among high-risk suicidal youth following acute psychiatric care. Specific procedures are provided for keeping adolescents safe during intensive EMA studies, including detailed information about the risk and safety monitoring plan.


Subject(s)
Ecological Momentary Assessment , Suicidal Ideation , Adolescent , Child , Feasibility Studies , Humans , Suicide, Attempted , Surveys and Questionnaires
12.
J Adolesc ; 87: 63-73, 2021 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33493982

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: There is public concern about potential associations between adolescent social media/smartphone use and risk for suicide. However, no prior studies leverage qualitative methods to explore the experiences of adolescents currently at-risk for suicide. METHODS: This study examined social technology use from the perspectives of adolescents (n = 30; Mage = 16.1 years) currently hospitalized for a recent suicide attempt or severe ideation. We conducted in-depth interviews and coded transcripts using thematic analysis. We had three research questions: What (1) negative and (2) positive experiences do suicidal adolescents report related to their use of social media/smartphones? (3) How do adolescents describe their disconnection from these technologies use during inpatient hospitalization and views on a subsequent return to digital connectivity after discharge? RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Results reveal both positive and negative social technology uses, with most participants reporting mixed (positive and negative) experiences. Negatives/risks included trouble regulating use, stress related to social media metrics, encounters with "triggering" content, hostility and meanness, self-denigrating comparisons, and burdensome friendship expectations. Positives/benefits included social connection, social support, affect-enhancing content, shared interests, and resources for mental health and coping. Overall, the documented risks and benefits of social technology use correspond with established (offline) risk and protective factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Participants generally valued the break from social technologies during hospitalization, and also viewed them as integral to social re-entry and identified related concerns. Future studies should test well-being focused 'digital hygiene' interventions for maximizing potential benefits and minimizing potential harms of social technologies for at-risk adolescents.


Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior , Social Media , Adolescent , Humans , Risk Factors , Social Support , Suicidal Ideation , Suicide, Attempted
13.
Br J Psychiatry ; 217(6): 659-660, 2020 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32228741

ABSTRACT

Despite decades of suicide research, our ability to predict suicide has not changed. Why is this the case? We outline the unique challenges facing suicide research. Borrowing successful strategies from other medical fields, we propose specific research directions that aim to translate scientific findings into meaningful clinical impact.


Subject(s)
Suicide , Humans
14.
J Child Psychol Psychiatry ; 61(3): 294-308, 2020 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31373003

ABSTRACT

Suicide is a leading cause of death among youth worldwide. The purpose of the current review was to examine recent cross-national trends in suicide mortality rates among 10- to 19-year-olds. This study extracted suicide mortality data from the World Health Organization's (WHO) Mortality Database for the most recent year (since 2010) from any country with available high-quality data (as defined by the WHO's guidelines). Data on access to lethal means (firearms, railways) and measures of economic quality (World Bank Income Group) and inequality (Gini coefficients) were obtained from publicly available data sources. Cross-national suicide mortality rates in youth were heterogeneous. The pooled estimate across all ages, sexes, and countries was 3.77/100,000 people. The highest suicide rates were found in Estonia, New Zealand, and Uzbekistan. Suicide rates were higher among older compared with younger adolescents and higher among males than females. The most common suicide methods were hanging/suffocation and jumping/lying in front of a moving object or jumping from a height. Firearm and railway access were related to suicide deaths by firearms and jumping/lying, respectively. Economic quality and inequality were not related to overall suicide mortality rates. However, economic inequality was correlated with a higher ratio of male:female suicides. This study provides a recent update of cross-national suicide trends in adolescents. Findings replicate prior patterns related to age, sex, geographic region, and common suicide methods. New to this review are findings relating suicide method accessibility to suicide mortality rates and the significant association between income inequality and the ratio of male:female suicide. Future research directions include expanding the worldwide coverage to more low- and middle-income countries, examining demographic groupings beyond binary sex and to race/ethnicity within countries, and clarifying factors that account for cross-national differences in suicide trends.


Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior , Global Health/statistics & numerical data , Suicide, Completed/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Humans , Young Adult
15.
Psychol Med ; 49(9): 1470-1480, 2019 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30131080

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Non-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. METHODS: We 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). RESULTS: The 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. CONCLUSIONS: NSSI 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.


Subject(s)
Military Personnel/statistics & numerical data , Self-Injurious Behavior/epidemiology , Suicide/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Age of Onset , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Suicidal Ideation , Suicide, Attempted/statistics & numerical data , United States/epidemiology , Young Adult
16.
Depress Anxiety ; 36(10): 950-959, 2019 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31332887

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cognitive vulnerability theories of depression outline multiple, distinct inferential biases constitutive of cognitive vulnerability to depression. These include attributing negative events to internal, stable, and global factors, assuming that negative events will lead to further negative consequences, and inferring that negative events reflect negative characteristics about the self. Extant research has insufficiently examined these biases as distinct, limiting our understanding of how the individual cognitive vulnerability components interrelate and confer risk for depression symptoms. Thus, we conducted exploratory network analyses to examine the relationships among the five components of negative cognitive style and explore how components may differentially relate to depressive symptoms in adolescents. METHODS: Participants completed measures of negative cognitive style twice over a two-year period. We estimated Graphical Gaussian Models using contemporaneous data and computed a cross-lagged panel network using temporal data from baseline and 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: Results reveal interesting structural dynamics among facets of negative cognitive style and depressive symptoms. For example, results point to biases towards stable and future-oriented inferences as highly influential among negative cognitive style components. The temporal model revealed the internal attributions component to be heavily influenced by depressive symptoms among adolescents, whereas stable and global attributions most influenced future symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents novel approaches for investigating cognitive style and depression. From this perspective, perhaps more precise predictions can be made about how cognitive risk factors will lead to the development or worsening of psychopathology.


Subject(s)
Cognition , Depression/psychology , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Risk Factors
17.
Int J Eat Disord ; 52(5): 564-575, 2019 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30770581

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Eating disordered (ED) behaviors (i.e., binge eating, compensatory behaviors, restrictive eating) and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI; intentional and nonsuicidal self-harm) are highly comorbid and share several similarities, including consequent pain and physical damage. However, whereas NSSI is considered direct self-harm, ED behaviors are considered indirect self-harm. These distinctions stem from theoretical understanding that NSSI is enacted to cause physical harm in the moment, whereas ED behaviors are enacted for other reasons, with consequent physical harm occurring downstream of the behaviors. We sought to build on these theoretically informed classifications by assessing a range of self-harming intentions across NSSI and ED behaviors. METHOD: Study recruitment was conducted via online forums. After screening for inclusion criteria, 151 adults reported on their intent to and knowledge of causing physical harm in the short- and long-term and suicide and death related cognitions and intentions when engaging in NSSI and specific ED behaviors. RESULTS: Participants reported engaging in ED and NSSI behaviors with intent to hurt themselves physically in the moment and long-term, alongside thoughts of suicide, and with some hope and knowledge of dying sooner due to these behaviors. Distinctions across behaviors also emerged. Participants reported greater intent to cause physical harm in the moment via NSSI and in the long-run via restrictive eating. NSSI and restrictive eating were associated with stronger endorsement of most suicide and death-related intentions than binge eating or compensatory behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Findings shed light on classification of self-harming behaviors, casting doubt that firm boundaries differentiate direct and indirectly self-harming behaviors.


Subject(s)
Emotions/physiology , Feeding and Eating Disorders/psychology , Self-Injurious Behavior/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Comorbidity , Female , Humans , Intention , Male , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young Adult
18.
J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol ; 48(6): 934-946, 2019.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31560584

ABSTRACT

Recent advances in real-time monitoring technology make this an exciting time to study risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among youth. Although there is good reason to be excited about these methods, there is also reason for caution in adopting them without first understanding their limitations. In this article, we present several broad future directions for using real-time monitoring among youth at risk for suicide focused around three broad themes: novel research questions, novel analytic methods, and novel methodological approaches. We also highlight potential technical, logistical, and ethical challenges with these methodologies, as well as possible solutions to these challenges.


Subject(s)
Suicide/psychology , Adolescent , Female , Humans , Male , Risk Factors
19.
J Child Psychol Psychiatry ; 59(4): 460-482, 2018 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29090457

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a leading cause of death and a complex clinical outcome. Here, we summarize the current state of research pertaining to suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth. We review their definitions/measurement and phenomenology, epidemiology, potential etiological mechanisms, and psychological treatment and prevention efforts. RESULTS: We identify key patterns and gaps in knowledge that should guide future work. Regarding epidemiology, the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among youth varies across countries and sociodemographic populations. Despite this, studies are rarely conducted cross-nationally and do not uniformly account for high-risk populations. Regarding etiology, the majority of risk factors have been identified within the realm of environmental and psychological factors (notably negative affect-related processes), and most frequently using self-report measures. Little research has spanned across additional units of analyses including behavior, physiology, molecules, cells, and genes. Finally, there has been growing evidence in support of select psychotherapeutic treatment and prevention strategies, and preliminary evidence for technology-based interventions. CONCLUSIONS: There is much work to be done to better understand suicidal thoughts and behaviors among youth. We strongly encourage future research to: (1) continue improving the conceptualization and operationalization of suicidal thoughts and behaviors; (2) improve etiological understanding by focusing on individual (preferably malleable) mechanisms; (3) improve etiological understanding also by integrating findings across multiple units of analyses and developing short-term prediction models; (4) demonstrate greater developmental sensitivity overall; and (5) account for diverse high-risk populations via sampling and reporting of sample characteristics. These serve as initial steps to improve the scientific approach, knowledge base, and ultimately prevention of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among youth.


Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior/psychology , Bullying/psychology , Child Abuse/psychology , Family Therapy , Suicidal Ideation , Suicide Prevention , Suicide/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Crisis Intervention , Female , Genetic Markers , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Suicide/statistics & numerical data , Young Adult
20.
Depress Anxiety ; 35(1): 65-88, 2018 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29064611

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The field is in need of novel and transdiagnostic risk factors for suicide. The National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) provides a framework that may help advance research on suicidal behavior. METHOD: We conducted a meta-analytic review of existing prospective risk and protective factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (ideation, attempts, and deaths) that fall within one of the five RDoC domains or relate to a prominent suicide theory. Predictors were selected from a database of 4,082 prospective risk and protective factors for suicide outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 460 predictors met inclusion criteria for this meta-analytic review and most examined risk (vs. protective) factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The overall effect of risk factors was statistically significant, but relatively small, in predicting suicide ideation (weighted mean odds ratio: wOR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.59-1.87), suicide attempt (wOR = 1.66 [1.57-1.76), and suicide death (wOR = 1.41 [1.24-1.60]). Across all suicide outcomes, most risk factors related to the Negative Valence Systems domain, although effect sizes were of similar magnitude across RDoC domains. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the RDoC framework provides a novel and promising approach to suicide research; however, relatively few studies of suicidal behavior fit within this framework. Future studies must go beyond the "usual suspects" of suicide risk factors (e.g., mental disorders, sociodemographics) to understand the processes that combine to lead to this deadly outcome.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Suicide , Humans , Mental Disorders/classification , Mental Disorders/metabolism , Mental Disorders/physiopathology , Risk Factors , Suicide/classification , Suicide/psychology , Suicide/statistics & numerical data
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