Future Well-Being Among U.S. Youth Who Attempted Suicide and Survived.

To what extent does a suicide attempt impair a person's future well-being? We estimated the prevalence of future well-being (FWB) among suicide attempt survivors using a nationally representative sample of 15,170 youths. Suicide attempt survivors were classified as having high FWB if they reported (a) a suicide attempt at Wave I, (b) no suicidal ideation or attempts over the past year at Wave III (7 years after), and (c) a well-being profile at or above the top quartile of nonsuicidal peers. Seventy-five of 574 suicide attempt survivors (∼13%) met criteria for FWB at Wave III, compared to 26% of nonsuicidal peers. Wave I well-being levels, not depressive symptoms, predicted the likelihood of FWB at Wave III (OR = 1.23, 95% CI [1.05, 1.44], p < .05). In conclusion, a nonfatal suicide attempt reduced but did not preclude FWB in a large national sample. The observation that a segment of the population of suicide attempt survivors achieves FWB carries implications for the prognosis of suicidal behavior and the value of incorporating well-being into investigations of suicide-related phenomena.

On prediction, refutation, and explanatory reach: A consideration of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicidal Behavior.

Theory proposition, empirical evaluation, and resulting support or refutation are core pieces of the scientific process. These steps of theory-testing, however, can be complicated by relative rigidity and dogmatism, in combination with the logistical challenges inherent in conducting comprehensive, real-world tests of theories explicating complex scientific phenomena, especially rare ones. It may be argued that suicide is one such phenomenon, and one for which the field of psychology has struggled to develop satisfactory understanding. One leading theory of suicide, the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, has garnered attention and, to a considerable degree, has weathered substantial scrutiny. Still, it is arguable that the theory has yet to be tested in full-that is, in accordance with all propositions originally put forth. In this effort, we sought to evaluate the current state of knowledge regarding the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, as well as to suggest potential directions via which future work may proceed. We draw from the fields of philosophy, psychology, physics, and engineering in the hopes of engendering curiosity and critical thought about the assumptions researchers (ourselves included) bring to their work. We direct particular attention to the role of refutation in theory-testing; the supposed dichotomy of explanatory vs. algorithmic approaches; and the categorization of research programs as progressive vs. degenerative. In doing so, we hope not only to promote these ideas in the study of suicidal behavior but also to empiricists of all creeds and foci. We also include implications for suicide prevention efforts.

History of suicidality and alcohol craving trajectories during inpatient treatment for alcohol use disorder.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use is associated with an increased risk of completed suicide, but it is unclear whether past suicidality affects the course of alcohol use disorder (AUD). We examined whether a history of suicidal ideation or attempts is associated with treatment response in individuals with AUD. METHODS: 146 participants underwent inpatient detoxification and residential treatment for AUD. Reductions in craving during treatment were used as an index of treatment response. Participants were assessed for history of suicidality using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale and divided into three groups: no history of suicidal ideation or attempts (N = 76), history of suicidal ideation without attempts (N = 50), and history of suicide attempts (N = 20). Alcohol craving was measured weekly during treatment using the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale and compared across groups. RESULTS: Individuals with a history of suicide attempts showed higher levels of craving throughout treatment compared to those without a history of suicidality. Associations between past suicide attempts and craving remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, alcohol use disorder severity, comorbid psychopathology, and benzodiazepine treatment. Participants in all groups had significant reductions in alcohol craving by the end of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a history of suicide attempts is associated with higher levels of craving throughout inpatient treatment for AUD. These results support current guidelines on assessing suicidal ideation in patients with substance use disorders.

High-risk social drinkers and heavy drinkers display similar rates of alcohol consumption.

Alcohol consumption is often assessed over weeks to months, but few attempts have been made to characterize alcohol consumption rates at the level of an individual drinking session. Here, we aimed to compare the rate of alcohol consumption in social drinkers at high risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and heavy drinkers. One hundred and sixty social drinkers and 48 heavy drinkers participated in an alcohol self-administration study. Social drinkers were classified as low risk or high risk for AUD based on sex, impulsivity, and family history of alcoholism. Participants received a priming dose of intravenous alcohol to assess alcohol-induced craving and completed a 125-minute intravenous alcohol self-administration session to assess rate of achieving a binge-level exposure (blood alcohol concentration greater than or equal to 80 mg%). There were no differences between rates of binging in high-risk and heavy drinkers (hazard ratio = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.48-1.56). Heavy drinkers reported higher levels of craving than high-risk and low-risk drinkers at baseline. However, following a priming dose of alcohol, there were no longer differences in craving between high-risk and heavy drinkers. These results indicate that high-risk social drinkers demonstrate binging behavior that is similar to heavy drinkers, which may be driven by alcohol-induced craving. Prospective studies are needed to elucidate whether these patterns of craving and consumption in high-risk social drinkers are predictive of future AUD.