Machine learning approach for the development of a crucial tool in suicide prevention: The Suicide Crisis Inventory-2 (SCI-2) Short Form.

The Suicide Crisis Syndrome (SCS) describes a suicidal mental state marked by entrapment, affective disturbance, loss of cognitive control, hyperarousal, and social withdrawal that has predictive capacity for near-term suicidal behavior. The Suicide Crisis Inventory-2 (SCI-2), a reliable clinical tool that assesses SCS, lacks a short form for use in clinical settings which we sought to address with statistical analysis. To address this need, a community sample of 10,357 participants responded to an anonymous survey after which predictive performance for suicidal ideation (SI) and SI with preparatory behavior (SI-P) was measured using logistic regression, random forest, and gradient boosting algorithms. Four-fold cross-validation was used to split the dataset in 1,000 iterations. We compared rankings to the SCI-Short Form to inform the short form of the SCI-2. Logistic regression performed best in every analysis. The SI results were used to build the SCI-2-Short Form (SCI-2-SF) utilizing the two top ranking items from each SCS criterion. SHAP analysis of the SCI-2 resulted in meaningful rankings of its items. The SCI-2-SF, derived from these rankings, will be tested for predictive validity and utility in future studies.

Intentions to use mental health and suicide prevention resources among individuals with symptoms of the suicide crisis syndrome and/or suicidal ideation.

INTRODUCTION: The suicide crisis syndrome (SCS) has demonstrated efficacy in predicting suicide attempts, showing potential utility in detecting at-risk individuals who may not be willing to disclose suicidal ideation (SI). The present international study examined differences in intentions to utilize mental health and suicide prevention resources among community-based adults with varying suicide risk (i.e., presence/absence of SCS and/or SI). METHODS: A sample of 16,934 community-based adults from 13 countries completed measures about the SCS and SI. Mental health and suicide prevention resources were provided to all participants, who indicated their intentions to use these resources. RESULTS: Individuals with SCS (55.7%) were just as likely as those with SI alone (54.0%), and more likely than those with no suicide-related symptoms (45.7%), to report willingness to utilize mental health resources. Those with SI (both with and without SCS) were more likely to seek suicide prevention resources (52.6% and 50.5%, respectively) than those without SI (41.7% and 41.8%); however, when examining endorsements for personal use, those with SCS (21.6%) were more likely to use resources than individuals not at risk (15.1%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide insight into individuals' willingness to use resources across configurations of explicitly disclosed (SI) and indirect (SCS) suicide risk.

The impact of scaffolded and non-scaffolded suicidal virtual human interaction training on clinician emotional self-awareness, empathic communication, and clinical efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Clinicians working with patients at risk of suicide often experience high stress, which can result in negative emotional responses (NERs). Such negative emotional responses may lead to less empathic communication (EC) and unintentional rejection of the patient, potentially damaging the therapeutic alliance and adversely impacting suicidal outcomes. Therefore, clinicians need training to effectively manage negative emotions toward suicidal patients to improve suicidal outcomes. METHODS: This study investigated the impact of virtual human interaction (VHI) training on clinicians' self-awareness of their negative emotional responses, assessed by the Therapist Response Questionnaire Suicide Form, clinicians' verbal empathic communication assessed by the Empathic Communication and Coding System, and clinical efficacy (CE). Clinical efficacy was assessed by the likelihood of subsequent appointments, perceived helpfulness, and overall interaction satisfaction as rated by individuals with lived experience of suicide attempts. Two conditions of virtual human interactions were used: one with instructions on verbal empathic communication and reminders to report negative emotional responses during the interaction (scaffolded); and the other with no such instructions or reminders (non-scaffolded). Both conditions provided pre-interaction instructions and post-interaction feedback aimed at improving clinicians' empathic communication and management of negative emotions. Sixty-two clinicians participated in three virtual human interaction sessions under one of the two conditions. Linear mixed models were utilized to evaluate the impact on clinicians' negative emotional responses, verbal empathic communication, and clinical efficacy; and to determine changes in these outcomes over time, as moderated by the training conditions. RESULTS: Clinician participants' negative emotional responses decreased after two training sessions with virtual human interactions in both conditions. Participants in the scaffolded condition exhibited enhanced empathic communication after one training session, while two sessions were required for participants in the non-scaffolded condition. Surprisingly, after two training sessions, clinical efficacy was improved in the non-scaffolded group, while no similar improvements were observed in the scaffolded group. CONCLUSION: Lower clinical efficacy after virtual human interaction training in clinicians with higher verbal empathic communication suggests that nonverbal expressions of empathy are critical when interacting with suicidal patients. Future work should explore virtual human interaction training in both nonverbal and verbal empathic communication.

A step forward in conceptualizing psychological closeness/distance to suicide methods: A qualitative approach.

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is a leading cause of death, making suicide prevention a major public health priority. Increasing understanding of factors influencing suicidal behavior is paramount. Previous research has implicated psychological closeness, characterized by perceptions of how close/distant or attached/detached one feels to a particular object, as a cognitive factor that influences suicidal behavior. However, a better understanding of how psychological closeness to suicide methods is conceptualized by relevant populations is needed to improve its assessment and understand how it may confer risk for suicide. METHODS: The goal was to refine the conceptualization of psychological closeness to suicide methods by incorporating feedback from relevant populations. We conducted 30 interviews with those primarily identifying as having lived experience of suicide (n = 10), clinicians who work with suicidal patients (n = 11), and suicide researchers (n = 9). A rigorous thematic approach using NVivo software was used to uncover common themes. RESULTS: Primary themes included familiarity, comfort, and attachment, with one emerging theme of symbolism. We define these themes, provide context to their meaning, and share exemplary quotes across diverse participants. CONCLUSION: We consider clinical, research, and policy implications from an interdisciplinary lens and discuss the strengths and limitations of this study.

Relationship Between Severity and Length of Exposure to COVID-19 Parameters and Resulting Government Responses and the Suicide Crisis Syndrome (SCS).

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a globally devastating psychosocial impact. A detailed understanding of the mental health implications of this worldwide crisis is critical for successful mitigation of and preparation for future pandemics. Using a large international sample, we investigated in the present study the relationship between multiple COVID-19 parameters (both disease characteristics and government responses) and the incidence of the suicide crisis syndrome (SCS), an acute negative affect state associated with near-term suicidal behavior. METHODS: Data were collected from 5528 adults across 10 different countries in an anonymous web-based survey between June 2020 and January 2021. RESULTS: Individuals scoring above the SCS cut-off lived in countries with higher peak daily cases and deaths during the first wave of the pandemic. Additionally, the longer participants had been exposed to markers of pandemic severity (eg, lockdowns), the more likely they were to screen positive for the SCS. Findings reflected both country-to-country comparisons and individual variation within the pooled sample. CONCLUSION: Both the pandemic itself and the government interventions utilized to contain the spread appear to be associated with suicide risk. Public policy should include efforts to mitigate the mental health impact of current and future global disasters.

Perseveration on suicidal thoughts and images in daily life: An examination of the cognitive model of suicide through a dynamic systems lens.

According to the cognitive model of suicide, interactions between hopelessness and attentional biases toward suicidal information create a narrowed attentional focus on suicide as a viable solution, particularly in the presence of life stress, leading to increased suicide risk. This study used a dynamic systems approach to examine the short-term temporal patterns between stress, hopelessness, suicide-specific rumination, and suicidal intent. Adults (N = 237; M = 27.12 years; 62% cisgender women; 87% White/European American) with elevated suicidal ideation completed ecological momentary assessments six times a day for 14 days. A multilevel model approach informed by dynamic systems theory was used to simultaneously assess stable and dynamic temporal processes underlying perceived stress, hopelessness, suicide-specific rumination, and suicidal intent. Each variable demonstrated temporal stability. In support of the cognitive model of suicide, we observed (1) a reciprocal relationship between stress and hopelessness such that stress and hopelessness amplified each other (early-stage processes), and (2) reinforcing loops such that hopelessness, suicide-specific rumination, and suicidal intent amplified each other (later-stage processes). A dynamic systems modeling approach underscored the negative impact of a perpetuating cycle of suicide-specific rumination, deepening hopelessness, and escalating suicidal intent on increasing suicide risk, which may be targets for intervention.

Psychometric properties and factor structure of the suicidal narrative inventory in major depression: A multicentric evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The Suicidal Narrative Inventory (SNI) is a 38-item self-report measure developed to assess elements of the suicidal narrative, a subacute, predominantly cognitive, presuicidal construct. Our objectives were to assess the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the SNI-38 among adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, we administered the Hindi version of the SNI along with other self-report measures to adults with MDD, recruited from 24 tertiary care hospitals across India. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to assess the factor structure of SNI-38. Reliability (internal consistency) was assessed using Cronbach's alpha (α). Convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity of the SNI-38 were tested by comparing it against other appropriate measures. RESULTS: We collected usable responses from 654 Hindi-speaking participants (Mean age = 36.9 ± 11.9 years, 50.2% female). The eight-factor solution of the SNI showed good model fit indices (χ2[637] = 3345.58, p <.001, CFI =.98, and RMSEA =.08). Internal consistencies for the SNI subscale scores were good to excellent, α ranging from .73 to.92. While most subscales significantly converged with other measures, associations were comparatively weaker and inconsistent for the 'thwarted belongingness' and 'goal reengagement' subscales. CONCLUSION: Consistent with prior data, our study confirmed an eight-factor solution and demonstrated adequate psychometric properties for the Hindi version of the SNI-38 in our sample. These findings provide empirical support for the use of SNI to assess the suicidal narrative among Indian adults with MDD.

Suicidal ideation and attempts and hyperarousal in military personnel and veterans: Network analysis reveals roles of anxiety sensitivity and insomnia.

OBJECTIVE: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) are a serious public health problem in the United States and of particular concern among active-duty service members and veterans. Research indicates hyperarousal, through its relevance across other disorder constructs and correlations with risk factors, may confer suicide risk in this population. Investigation of hyperarousal's connection with STBs and risk factors relevant to military mental health may be illuminating. METHOD: A network analysis was conducted to examine whether hyperarousal transdiagnostically linked STBs with psychopathology symptoms and relevant correlates (i.e., alcohol use disorder symptoms, substance abuse, insomnia, and cognitive anxiety sensitivity [AS]) in a sample of active-duty service members and veterans (N = 1,050). RESULTS: Hyperarousal shared direct associations with suicidal ideation, suicidal intent, and lifetime history of suicide attempts when examined in independence. It indirectly correlated with STBs via cognitive AS and insomnia when psychopathology symptoms and relevant correlates were included in the network. The network structure did not differ between active-duty personnel and veterans. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperarousal examined in independence may appear to directly correlate with STBs but this relationship may be better accounted for by cognitive AS and insomnia. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Abbreviated Suicidal Narrative Inventory: Factor Structure, Internal Consistency, and Validity in a Brazilian Sample.

AIM: To investigate the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Brazilian version of the Abbreviated Suicidal Narrative Inventory (SNI-38). METHODS: We used an anonymous online questionnaire of the SNI-38 and self-report measures administered between November 2020 and October 2021 in the Brazilian community. Participants were recruited through social media advertisements. Confirmatory factor analysis was carried out to test the factor structure of the SNI-38. In addition, we examined internal consistency, and convergent validity against stressful life events, the suicide crisis syndrome, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. RESULTS: 2660 participants were included. The eight-factor model SNI-38 had a good model fit (χ2[637] = 7,473.98, p < .001, CFI = .99, TLI = .99, RMSEA = .07, SRMR = .06); all items were significantly and positively loaded onto their respective factors (factor loadings ≥ .45). Reliability was good to high in all subscales except goal disengagement. Additionally, all subscales - except goal disengagement - were correlated positively which the suicide crisis syndrome, stressful life events, lifetime/past-month suicidal ideation, and lifetime suicide attempts. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide preliminary support for the validity of the Brazilian version of the SNI-38, being an appropriate and valid tool for measuring suicidal narrative among Brazilian samples.

Measurement invariance of the Depressive Symptom Inventory-Suicidality Scale across race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and plurality of minoritized identities.

Measurement invariance across diverse groups, though crucial for determining the generalizability of a measure, has not yet been tested in many assessments of suicidal thoughts. The present study assessed the measurement invariance and psychometric properties of one such assessment, the Depressive Symptom Inventory-Suicidality Subscale, across multiple identity dimensions in a large data set (n = 1,118) that combined three diverse samples. Findings supported measurement invariance of the scale by race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation when comparing those who were majority-aligning with their minoritized counterparts, as well as good internal consistency and expected convergent validity. The expected one-factor structure fit well for all three of the samples assessed. Overall, the results support measurement invariance and generalizability of the Depressive Symptom Inventory-Suicidality Subscale. Future studies should continue assessing measures of suicidal thoughts and behaviors through testing invariance across identities, especially as it pertains to specific identity subgroups and their intersections. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The role of interpersonal stressors and connectedness in acute suicide risk and the suicide crisis syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The global COVID-19 pandemic rapidly and drastically impacted everyday life and relationships. Fear of contracting and spreading the virus brought governments and individuals to adopt strict social distancing measures. These changes have had a significant negative impact on mental health, including a suggested increase in suicidal behaviors. The present study examined the role of interpersonal stress and connectedness in suicidal ideation, deliberate self-harm, suicide attempts, and the suicide crisis syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An international sample of 7837 adult participants was recruited across ten participating countries to complete an anonymous online battery of self-report questionnaires. Questionnaires assessed suicide-related outcomes, stressful life events (SLE), and connectedness. Multilevel regression analyses were used to examine the associations between SLE and connectedness on suicide-related outcomes within the past month. RESULTS: Interpersonal SLEs and low connectedness were associated with an increased likelihood of suicide-related outcomes and increased severity of suicide crisis syndrome. Specifically, higher rates of SLEs and lower levels of connectedness were associated with more suicide-related outcomes. LIMITATIONS: The use of a cross-sectional design and snowball sampling method may restrict the ability to establish causal relationships and limit the representativeness of the findings. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest elevated suicide-related outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals experiencing multiple interpersonal stressful life events and low connectedness with others. The circumstances of social life during the COVID-19 pandemic highlight the urgency of implementing preventive programs aimed at mitigating potential suicide risks that may arise in the aftermath of public stress situations.

The Revised Suicide Crisis Inventory (SCI-2): Factor Structure, Internal Consistency, and Validity in a Brazilian Sample.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Brazilian version of the Suicide Crisis Inventory (SCI-2) among Brazilian adults. METHODS: The SCI-2 was cross-culturally adapted into Portuguese and administered to 2,265 individuals in the Brazilian community. Confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency, and convergent and criterion validity against the suicidal narrative, stressful life events, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts were examined. RESULTS: The revised one-factor model of the SCI-2 resulted in adequate, but not optimal, model fit (χ2[1539] = 31,442.79, p < .001, CFI = .99, TLI = .99, RMSEA = .09, SRMR = .05). The revised five-factor model, on the other hand, demonstrated good fit (χ2[1529] = 14,174.86, p < .001, CFI = 1.00, TLI = 1.00, RMSEA = .06, SRMR = .04). Comparison of these two models indicated that the five-factor exhibited a superior model fit to the one-factor model. The SCI-2 total and subscales showed strong internal consistency, good convergent, and criterion validity in relation to stressful life events, suicidal narrative (except goal disengagement subscale), suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the Brazilian version of the SCI-2 is a valid tool for measuring symptoms of the Suicide Crisis Syndrome.

Firearm carrying and adolescent suicide risk outcomes between 2015 and 2021 across nationally representative samples.

INTRODUCTION: Firearms are the most frequent means of youth suicide for the 14-18-year-old age group, and adolescent firearm access confers substantial increases in the risk of suicidal behaviors. There have been significant increases in firearm purchases and firearm violence in the United States since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This study uses four time points of nationally representative data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) from 2015 to 2021 to examine the differential associations of reporting having carried a firearm and suicide-related outcomes, after controlling for relevant demographic factors. As a sensitivity analysis, we examined whether a similar risk pattern was seen for the probability of reporting depressed mood. RESULTS: Results reveal significant increases in suicide-related outcomes among students who reported carrying a firearm and no significant increases among those who did not. Unlike the suicide-related outcomes, increases in depressed mood overtime were not limited to students who carried firearms, suggesting that the risk associated with firearms may be specific to suicide-related outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Carrying a firearm is associated with significant increases in the risk of suicidal ideation and behaviors among youth and this risk has increased between 2015 and 2021. Implications for youth suicide prevention and directions for future research are discussed.

The impact of different neurobehavioral symptoms on suicidal ideation and perceived likelihood of future suicidality.

Existing literature suggests that psychological and functional impairment, independent of head injury severity, can increase suicide risk. This study explores the impacts of self-perceived dysfunction within four neurobehavioral symptom clusters-vestibular (e.g., dizziness, balance), somatosensory (e.g., headaches, nausea, vision), affective (e.g., anxious, irritable mood), and cognitive (e.g., concentration, memory, indecision)-on current suicidal ideation and the perceived likelihood of future suicidal ideation and attempts. Community participants (n = 309; Mage = 36.88; 51.6% female; 79.6% White) completed the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) and the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors-Short Form (SITBI-SF). Quantile regression analysis was used to explore the effects of the four neurobehavioral symptom clusters at different levels of suicidal ideation intensity, perceived likelihood of future suicidal ideation, and self-perceived likelihood of future suicide attempt. Controlling for past head injuries and suicide attempts, affective symptoms were significantly associated with a moderate and high average intensity of current suicidal ideation. Somatosensory symptoms were significantly associated with a moderate perceived likelihood of future suicidal ideation. Finally, vestibular symptoms were significantly associated with a moderate perceived likelihood of a future suicide attempt. These findings highlight the critical need to consider a broader spectrum of symptoms, including chronic physical symptoms, when assessing suicide risk. Furthermore, they underscore the need to expand beyond affective symptoms as an explanation for increased suicidality and examine additional mechanisms through which chronic physical symptoms can increase suicide risk.

Pain tolerance and threshold in suicide attempters: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

It has been hypothesized that individuals less sensitive to pain could be at higher risk of suicide. However, data on pain sensitivity in suicide attempters (SA) obtained using experimental procedures are heterogeneous. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate and compare pain tolerance and threshold in SA (patients with lifetime history of suicide attempt), non-attempters (psychiatric controls, PC), and healthy controls (HC). A random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the standardized mean differences using data from 16 studies that compared physical pain tolerance and threshold in SA and PC or HC. Pain tolerance and threshold were not significantly different in SA and PC. However, pain tolerance, but not threshold, was higher in SA than HC. Our findings do not support the hypothesis of an altered pain perception related as a trait for suicidal vulnerability, but rather suggest altered pain perception related to psychiatric vulnerability.

Using Virtual Patients to Assess and Improve Clinicians' Emotional Self-awareness: a Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: Working with suicidal patients can elicit negative emotional responses that can impede clinicians' empathy and affect clinical outcomes. Virtual human interactions represent a promising tool to train clinicians. The present study investigated the impact of virtual human interaction training to enhance clinicians' emotional self-awareness and empathy when working with suicidal patients. METHODS: Clinicians were randomly assigned into two groups. Both groups interviewed a virtual patient presenting with a suicidal crisis; clinicians in the intervention condition (n = 31) received immediate feedback about negative emotional responses and empathic communication, whereas those in the control condition (n = 33) did not receive any feedback. All clinicians interviewed a second virtual patient 1 week later. Clinicians' emotional response to the two virtual patients and their empathic communication with each of them were assessed immediately after each interaction. Linear mixed models were used to assess change in clinicians' emotional response and verbal empathy between the two interactions across conditions. RESULTS: Clinicians' emotional responses toward the suicidal virtual patients were unchanged in both conditions. Clinicians in the intervention condition presenting low empathy level with the first virtual patient showed higher empathy level with the second virtual patient than with the first (B = 1.15, SE = 0.25, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.42, 1.89]). CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrates the feasibility of using virtual human interactions to improve empathic communication skills in clinicians with poor empathy skills. Further refinement of this methodology is needed to create effective training modules for a broader array of clinicians.

Suicide Risk Moderates the Relationship Between Stressful Life Events, the Suicidal Narrative, and the Suicide Crisis Syndrome: A Brazilian Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Stressful life events are associated with higher odds of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Furthermore, stressful life events can trigger specific symptoms, including the suicidal narrative and suicide crisis syndrome, resulting in an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This study examined the moderating role of suicide risk in the relationship between stressful life events, the suicidal narrative, and the suicide crisis syndrome. METHODS: 2,260 adults completed an online survey recruited through advertisements on social media. The level of emotional distress was assessed through the Suicide Narrative Inventory, Suicide Crisis Inventory-2, Stressful Life Events Questionnaire, and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. The PROCESS macro (Hayes) was used to analyze the moderation models. RESULTS: Stressful life events were positively correlated with the suicidal narrative and suicide crisis syndrome. The effects of stressful life events on suicidal narrative and suicide crisis syndrome were strongest when suicide risk was low and weakest when suicide risk was high. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that including stressful life events as part of suicide risk assessment in general and clinical settings is critical to managing treatment for suicidal thoughts and developing adaptive coping.

The Suicide Dot Probe Task: Psychometric properties and validity in relation to suicide-related outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Attentional biases to suicide-related stimuli have been linked to suicide-related outcomes. However, behavioral tasks that have been previously modified to capture suicide-specific attentional biases have demonstrated inconsistent reliability and validity. Adaptation of the Dot Probe Task, a computerized assessment that has been adapted to study a wide variety of biases, may be a promising candidate for assessing suicide-specific biases. METHODS: In 280 recently discharged inpatients (51% male; Mage = 40.22 years), we evaluated the psychometric properties of a modified Suicide Dot Probe Task. Participants completed this task and assessments of suicidal thoughts and behaviors at baseline and 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: The Suicide Dot Probe Task demonstrated poor-to-moderate internal consistency and poor test-retest reliability, and participant response times were slower to suicide-specific and dysphoric stimuli than positive stimuli. However, there were no differences based on the presence or characteristics of recent or lifetime suicidal ideation or attempts. Participants' suicide-specific biases were not predictive of suicidal ideation or attempts at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The Suicide Dot Probe Task exhibited questionable reliability, and differences in attentional biases were not associated with suicidal ideation or attempts. This study contributes to a body of research demonstrating the questionable utility of several behavioral tasks to study suicide-specific attentional biases.

Stressful Life Events and Near-term Suicidal Risk in a Clinical Population.

The present study examined 22 specific stressful life events (SLEs) in relation to recent and prospective suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). The effect of assessment method (self-report vs. chart-based ratings) and inpatient/outpatient status was also investigated. Past 3-month STBs and SLEs were assessed for 1,058 psychiatric patients; 696 completed one-month follow-up assessments. SLEs were common, with 684 participants (64.7%) reporting at least one. Total number of SLEs correlated with recent and prospective STB. A higher incidence of SLE's was found with self-report vs. chart-based measures (on 20 SLEs) and inpatients vs. outpatients (on 7 SLEs). SLEs of interpersonal rejection and loss, homelessness and academic failure offered elevated risk. In sum, SLEs are common and associated with STBs in psychiatric patients. SLEs of interpersonal rejection and loss, homelessness and academic failure may merit increased clinical attention.

Testing replicability of the relationship between weight suppression and binge eating in three non-clinical samples varying in lifetime weight history.

OBJECTIVE: Increased weight suppression, the difference between an individual's highest and current weight at present height, predicts binge eating among eating disorder samples. Less is known about this relationship in non-clinical samples of individuals with a history of higher weight. METHODS: Lifetime highest BMI was tested as a moderator of the relationship between weight suppression and binge eating in three independent samples (N = 1740). RESULTS: At the bivariate level, weight suppression was not associated with binge eating in any sample (p's ≥ 0.20). Lifetime highest BMI moderated the relationship between weight suppression and binge eating in Sample 1 (p = .04), such that greater weight suppression was associated with lower binge eating among those with a history of higher weight (i.e., BMI = 40 kg/m2). In Samples 2 and 3, the lifetime highest BMI by weight suppression interaction term was not significant and dropped from the model (p's = 0.10-0.12). Accounting for age, gender, and lifetime highest BMI, greater weight suppression was associated with lower binge eating scores (p's < 0.04). A meta-analysis combining results revealed a small but significant interaction effect (r = 0.07, p = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the importance of investigating the generalizability of eating disorder risk and maintenance theories across the weight spectrum. Weight loss may not increase risk for binge eating among those with a history of higher weight. Future work should replicate and extend this finding using longitudinal designs. More research is needed to elucidate which weight loss motivations and/or behaviors are most closely linked to binge eating.