Perceived burdensomeness, but not thwarted belongingness, mediates the impact of PTSD symptom clusters on suicidal ideation modeled longitudinally.

BACKGROUND: Studies examining Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptom clusters, suicidal ideation, and variables described in the Joiner's interpersonal theory of suicidal behavior were cross-sectional. METHODS: We tested whether the relation between the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptom clusters and suicidal ideation is mediated by perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness (variables of the interpersonal theory of suicidal behavior) in military personnel with current suicidal ideation using longitudinal design. DSM-IV model with reexperiencing, avoidance, numbing, and hyperarousal clusters was used. Structural equation modelling was used to test separate models for each symptom cluster with a symptom cluster at baseline, month 1 perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, and month 3 suicidal ideation, controlling for baseline values of the month 1 and month 3 variables. RESULTS: Analysis of direct non-mediation models showed that baseline reexperiencing (p = .08) and avoidance (p = .07) symptom clusters marginally predicted month 3 suicidal ideation. The mediation analyses showed indirect effects from baseline reexperiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal to suicidal ideation at month 3 through perceived burdensomeness at month 1. Thwarted belongingness did not mediate the relations between symptom clusters and suicidal ideation. LIMITATIONS: The mechanism driving development of suicidal ideation in military personnel with PTSD may be different from the mechanism in other samples. Doing a phone interview limited us to use questionnaires instead of a clinical interview. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that interventions targeting perceived burdensomeness in military personnel with reexperiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal symptoms may be beneficial to reduce suicidal ideation.

Effects of anxiety sensitivity on cannabis, alcohol, and nicotine use among adolescents: evaluating pathways through anxiety, withdrawal symptoms, and coping motives.

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is a promising intervention target due to its relevance to negative health behaviors broadly, and substance use specifically. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the direct and indirect pathways through which elevated AS could relate to recent substance use among a national adolescent sample recruited via social-media. As predicted, AS was indirectly associated with greater likelihood of using alcohol, cigarettes, and electronic nicotine delivery systems in the past-month through anxiety symptoms. Regarding cannabis, AS was directly related to increased likelihood of past-month cannabis use; however, the indirect relation between AS and likelihood of past-month use via anxiety symptoms was not significant. Through chained indirect effects, AS was related positively to past-month alcohol and cannabis use via anxiety symptoms and coping-related motives, and through withdrawal symptoms and coping-related motives. Study findings can be used to generate hypotheses on potential pathways through which AS could prospectively relate to substance use among youth.

Prospective associations between insomnia symptoms and alcohol use problems among former and current military service personnel.

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence that insomnia symptoms exacerbate alcohol use disorder symptoms, there is a dearth of prospective research testing bidirectional associations between these variables. Furthermore, no studies have prospectively examined these associations among military personnel, a vulnerable population for sleep- and alcohol-related problems. Thus, the current study examined whether insomnia symptoms prospectively predicted increased alcohol use disorder symptoms among a sample of military service members and veterans over a 6-month follow-up period, as well as whether alcohol use disorder symptoms led to increases in insomnia. METHOD: Hypotheses were tested among a sample of 274 current and past military service members who participated in a baseline and 6-month assessment using self-report measures. RESULTS: Path analyses revealed that insomnia symptoms significantly prospectively predicted increased month-6 heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems, but not days drinking or being bothered by drinking. None of the alcohol variables significantly predicted insomnia. CONCLUSION: Results support a model in which insomnia symptoms exacerbate alcohol use disorder symptoms, specifically heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems. Future research should seek to examine these findings in diverse populations and test potential mechanisms and clinical implications of these results.