Lumbar Spine and Neural Tissue Mobilizations Improve Outcomes in Runners Presenting With Foot/Ankle Pathology: A Case Series.

CONTEXT: Foot/ankle pain is common among runners. Inadequate management of runners with foot/ankle pain can lead to lost training time, competition removal, and other activity limitations. Neurodynamics, which refers to the integrated biomechanical, physiological, and structural function of the nervous system during movement, can be overlooked in patients with foot/ankle pain. Although a link between the cervical spine, neurodynamics, and upper quarter pain has been studied, less is known about the relationship between the lumbar spine and lower quarter. This case series describes the successful management of 3 runners with foot/ankle pain. CASE PRESENTATIONS: Three female runners (ages 23, 24, and 45 y) presented to physical therapy with foot/ankle pain and difficulty running. Each patient had positive examination findings with local foot/ankle testing. A comprehensive lumbar spine examination demonstrated impairments in range of motion and joint mobility that were hypothesized to be contributing. Positive lower quarter neurodynamic tests were also found. MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES: All patients were treated with nonthrust lumbar spine mobilization and lower quarter neural tissue mobilization. Changes in the Patient-Specific Functional Scale, Numerical Pain Rating Scale, Lower Extremity Functional Scale, and Global Rating of Change occurred after intervention targeting the lumbar spine and lower-extremity neurodynamics in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: This case series demonstrates the importance of including a thorough lumbar spine examination and neurodynamic testing to identify appropriate interventions while managing patients with foot/ankle pain, even when patients have signs indicative of local ankle/foot pathology. These examination procedures should be performed particularly when a patient is not responding to management targeting local foot/ankle structures.

Interoceptive deficits, non-suicidal self-injury, and suicide risk: a multi-sample study of indirect effects.

BACKGROUND: Interoceptive deficits (ID) have been associated with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behavior in multiple studies. Many of these studies are limited in scope, and have not fully examined possible mechanisms explaining how ID affect suicidal behavior. METHODS: This study assesses how self-reported ID relate to suicide ideation and attempts in six distinct and geographically diverse samples of adults (n = 2706) and one sample of adolescents (n = 436). Participants responded to a variety of self-report questionnaires and interviews. RESULTS: Contrary to our hypothesis, self-reported ID were only associated with suicidal ideation in two samples, one of which was the adolescent sample. Largely consistent with our predictions, self-reported ID exhibited an indirect effect on suicide attempts through versatility of NSSI in four of the five adult samples tested. Finally, the indirect effects of self-reported ID on suicide attempts through NSSI versatility did not act indirectly through behaviorally assessed pain tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: We found that, in adults, self-reported ID are not associated with suicidal ideation, but are connected with a history of suicide attempts, through an indirect effect via NSSI. Our findings also indicate that the mechanism of action leading from self-reported ID to suicidal behavior may differ between adolescents and adults, and relate to suicidal behavior independent of pain tolerance. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.

Examination of interoception along the suicidality continuum.

OBJECTIVE: Interoception deficits have been associated with various points on the suicidality continuum. Most research, however, has focused on general, rather than specific facets of, interoception. This study compared individuals with lifetime suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts using a multidimensional assessment of interoception. METHOD: A total of 537 adults completed measures of their interoception and lifetime suicide histories. RESULTS: Individuals with lifetime suicidal ideation reported more worry about their bodily sensations. Those with lifetime suicide attempts reported a greater tendency to distract themselves from bodily sensations and less self-regulation using bodily sensations. Individuals at all points of the suicidality continuum reported less trust of their bodily sensations. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that interoception may be impaired in those with a history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Longitudinal designs are needed to parse apart the interplay of these variables and directionality of these relationships.

Evidence for the Propositions of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide Among a Military Sample.

OBJECTIVE: Although the interpersonal theory of suicide may explain the elevated suicide risk among military service members, past explorations have been equivocal. This study aimed to investigate the propositions of the interpersonal theory in a sample of U.S. Army recruiters. METHOD: Participants (N = 3,428) completed self-report measures assessing the interpersonal theory's constructs (i.e., thwarted belongingness (TB), perceived burdensomeness (PB), acquired capability for suicide), current suicidal ideation, agitation, and insomnia. History of depression was obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that the interaction between TB and PB was associated with current suicidal ideation, controlling for depression, agitation, and insomnia. This effect was especially notable among those with high capability for suicide. CONCLUSION: Findings provide support for the interpersonal theory in a large, diverse military sample. It may be advantageous to assess and therapeutically address TB and PB among at-risk service members.

Understanding suicide among older adults: a review of psychological and sociological theories of suicide.

OBJECTIVES: Older adults die by suicide at a higher rate than any other age group in nearly every country globally. Suicide among older adults has been an intractable clinical and epidemiological problem for decades, due in part to an incomplete understanding of the causes of suicide, as well as imprecision in the prediction and prevention of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in later life. Theory-driven investigations hold promise in addressing these gaps by systematically identifying testable, and thus falsifiable, mechanisms that may better explain this phenomenon and also point to specific interventions. METHOD: In this article, we comprehensively review key extant psychological and sociological theories of suicide and discuss each theory's applicability to the understanding and prevention of suicide among older adults. RESULTS: Despite a modest number of theories of suicide, few have undergone extensive empirical investigation and scrutiny, and even fewer have been applied specifically to older adults. CONCLUSION: To advance the science and contribute findings with a measurable clinical and public health impact, future research in this area, from conceptual to applied, must draw from and integrate theory.

Routinized Assessment of Suicide Risk in Clinical Practice: An Empirically Informed Update.

OBJECTIVE: Empirically informed suicide risk assessment frameworks are useful in guiding the evaluation and treatment of individuals presenting with suicidal symptoms. Joiner et al. (1999) formulated one such framework, which has provided a concise heuristic for the assessment of suicide risk. The purpose of this review is to ensure compatibility of this suicide risk assessment framework with the growing literature on suicide-related behaviors. METHODS: This review integrates recent literature on suicide risk factors and clinical applications into the existing model. Further, we present a review of risk factors not previously included in the Joiner et al. (1999) framework, such as the interpersonal theory of suicide variables of perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and capability for suicide (Joiner, 2005; Van Orden et al., 2010) and acute symptoms of suicidality (i.e., agitation, irritability, weight loss, sleep disturbances, severe affective states, and social withdrawal). RESULTS: These additional indicators of suicide risk further facilitate the classification of patients into standardized categories of suicide risk severity and the critical clinical decision making needed for the management of such risk. CONCLUSIONS: To increase the accessibility of empirically informed risk assessment protocols for suicide prevention and treatment, an updated suicide risk assessment form and decision tree are provided.

Dangerous Words? An Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Detailed Reporting About Suicide on Subsequent Risk.

OBJECTIVE: Media reporting guidelines exist for suicide-related content; however, no experimental studies have examined the impact of guideline violations. As such, we utilized an experimental design to determine whether reading an article about suicide that violated guidelines would impact mood and suicidality relative to the same article without violations and to an article detailing death by cancer, both immediately and during 1-month follow-up. METHOD: 273 students were randomly assigned to read one of three articles (1) an article that violated suicide reporting guidelines, (2) the same article with violations removed, or (3) an article that details death by cancer. RESULTS: Individuals assigned to read the original suicide article were no more upset immediately afterwards or during 1-month follow-up. Amongst participants with prior ideation, those who read the original article reported a lower likelihood of future attempt relative to either other condition. CONCLUSION: Results indicate some reporting guidelines may be unnecessary. Amongst individuals at risk for suicide, some guideline violations may be associated with a decreased likelihood of future attempt and result in a decrease in negative affect. Clinically, these results highlight the potential utility of exposing clients to in depth educational materials about suicide while mitigating concerns regarding certain aspects of the content.

Interpersonal processes in depression.

Humans have an intrinsic need for social connection; thus, it is crucial to understand depression in an interpersonal context. Interpersonal theories of depression posit that depressed individuals tend to interact with others in a way that elicits rejection, which increases their risk for future depression. In this review, we summarize the interpersonal characteristics, risk factors, and consequences of depression in the context of the relevant theories that address the role of interpersonal processes in the onset, maintenance, and chronicity of depression. Topics reviewed include social skills, behavioral features, communication behaviors, interpersonal feedback seeking, and interpersonal styles as they relate to depression. Treatment implications are discussed in light of the current research on interpersonal processes in depression, and the following future directions are discussed: developing integrative models of depression, improving measurement of interpersonal constructs, examining the association between interpersonal processes in depression and suicide, and tailoring interventions to target interpersonal processes in depression.

Cervical spine thrust and non-thrust mobilization for the management of recalcitrant C6 paresthesias associated with a cervical radiculopathy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The conservative management of cervical radiculopathy is supported by moderate evidence to include interventions such as manual therapy, traction, and therapeutic exercise. There is sparse evidence, however, to support specific manual therapy techniques, particularly thrust manipulation. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 35-year-old male presented to physical therapy with a clinical diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy. He complained of neck and upper arm pain with 1st and 2nd digit paresthesias. He was initially managed with repeated movements that restored the cervical range of motion and centralized neck and upper arm pain. Non-thrust upslope joint mobilizations resulted in improved sensation detection in the hand, but the paresthesias did not completely resolve. Immediately following cervical spine upslope thrust manipulation, symptoms fully resolved. Outcomes: The patient fully returned to prior level of function. His DASH score reduced from 40/100 to 2/100, PSFS improved from 1.66/10 to 9.66/10, and he reported to be 'a great deal better' on the GROC. DISCUSSION: This case demonstrates the safe and effective utilization of cervical spine thrust manipulation and non-thrust mobilization in the management of a patient with cervical radiculopathy with lingering paresthesias in the distal upper extremity.

Factors Predicting Intent to Intervene with a Potentially Suicidal Peer.

The current study examined how the theory of planned behavior (TPB) constructs predict college students' intent to ask about suicide and refer a potentially suicidal peer to support. Using an experimental design, 420 college students (Mage = 19.61, SD = 1.50 yrs) were randomly assigned to read one of four vignettes depicting a peer in distress that varied suicide risk severity (low vs. high) and perceived causes of the distress (internal vs. external). Participants read their vignette and answered questions measuring TPB constructs and items assessing intent to ask about suicide and intent to refer the peer to services. Results indicated that subjective norms were associated with intent to ask about suicide and attitudes impact intent to refer. Only the interaction between risk severity and perceived behavioral control in predicting intent to refer and intent to ask were significant. Peers who perceive risk to be high are more likely to refer peers regardless of perceived behavioral control and are increasingly more likely to ask about suicide as perceived behavioral control increases. When risk severity is low and perceived behavioral control is low, peers are less likely to refer or ask about suicide. The theory of planned behavior has relevance to understanding peer intent to intervene with an at-risk peer and may be beneficial to guiding the development of effective suicide prevention programs.

Retracted: The Three-Step Theory of Suicide: An Independent Replication and Conceptual Extension.

Retraction: Christopher R. Hagan PhD, Jennifer J. Muehlenkamp PhD, "The Three-Step Theory of Suicide: An Independent Replication and Conceptual Extension," Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, Wiley, © American Association of Suicidology The above article, published online on 30 September 2019 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor in Chief, Thomas Joiner, PhD, and John Wiley and Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed due to errors in variable calculation and a post-publication reviewer's concerns that some analyses did not accurately test the theoretical model. An updated version of this article will soon undergo review for publication at Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, and if accepted for publication, will be accompanied by an editorial from the Editor-in-Chief.

Empirical extension of the interpersonal theory of suicide: Investigating the role of interpersonal hopelessness.

The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide posits that hopelessness about thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness is an important risk factor for the desire for suicide and suicide risk. Past research has indicated that general feelings of hopelessness interact with the constructs of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness to predict suicide ideation. However, no research has explicitly tested whether hopelessness specific to the interpersonal constructs of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness predicts suicide ideation and suicide risk. Participants in the current study (N = 173) were undergraduate students oversampled for history of suicide ideation, planning for suicide, and suicide attempt(s). Participants completed study measures online, including a new measure of hopelessness about thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. Results indicated that a three-way interaction of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and hopelessness about these interpersonal constructs, but not general hopelessness, predicted unique variance of suicide ideation and suicide risk. Results suggest that hopelessness about thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness may be an important target for reducing suicidal desire.

Burdensomeness, Belongingness, and Capability: Assessing the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide With MMPI-2-RF Scales.

Given the emerging body of literature demonstrating the validity of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide (IPTS), and the importance of increasing our understanding of the development of risk factors associated with suicidal behavior, it seems worthwhile both to expand IPTS research via Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) correlates and to expand the availability of methods by which to assess the constructs of the IPTS. The present study attempted to do so in a large adult outpatient mental health sample by (a) inspecting associations between the IPTS constructs and the substantive scales of the MMPI-2-RF and (b) exploring the utility of MMPI-2-RF scale-based algorithms of the IPTS constructs. Correlates between the IPTS constructs and the MMPI-2-RF scales scores largely followed a pattern consistent with theory-based predictions, and we provide preliminary evidence that the IPTS constructs can be reasonably approximated using theoretically based MMPI-2-RF substantive scales. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Implicit Measures of Suicide Risk in a Military Sample.

Suicide has become an issue of great concern within the U.S. military in recent years, with recent reports indicating that suicide has surpassed combat related deaths as the leading cause of death. One concern regarding suicide risk in the military is that existing self-report measures allow service members to conceal or misrepresent current suicidal ideation or suicide plans and preparations. Implicit association tests (IATs) are computer-based, reaction time measures that have been shown to be resilient to such masking of symptoms. The death/suicide implicit association test (d/s-IAT) is an empirically supported IAT that is specific to death and suicide. The present study examined whether the performance of 1,548 U.S. military service members on the d/s-IAT significantly predicted lifetime suicidal ideation and depression. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression analyses were used to test these associations. Results indicated that the d/s-IAT was neither associated with history of suicidal ideation nor history of depression.

Initial validation of brief measures of suicide risk factors: Common data elements used by the Military Suicide Research Consortium.

The Military Suicide Research Consortium (MSRC) developed a 57-item questionnaire assessing suicide risk factors, referred to as the Common Data Elements (CDEs), in order to facilitate data sharing and improve collaboration across independent studies. All studies funded by MSRC are required to include the CDEs in their assessment protocol. The CDEs include shortened measures of the following: current and past suicide risk, lethality and intent of past suicide attempts, hopelessness, thwarted belongingness, anxiety sensitivity, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, traumatic brain injury, insomnia, and alcohol abuse. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the CDE items drawn from empirically validated measures. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the overall structure of the CDE items, and confirmatory factor analyses were used to evaluate the distinct properties of each scale. Internal consistencies of the CDE scales and correlations with full measures were also examined. Merged data from 3,140 participants (81.0% military service members, 75.6% male) across 19 MSRC-funded studies were used in analyses. Results indicated that all measures exhibited adequate internal consistency, and all CDE shortened measures were significantly correlated with the corresponding full measures with moderate to strong effect sizes. Factor analyses indicated that the shortened CDE measures performed well in comparison with the full measures. Overall, our findings suggest that the CDEs are not only brief but also provide psychometrically valid scores when assessing suicide risk and related factors that may be used in future research. (PsycINFO Database Record

The Indirect Effect of Perceived Criticism on Suicide Ideation and Attempts.

The effect of perceived criticism from others is one potentially important risk factor for suicide that has received scant attention, despite decades of research on the role of criticism in the treatment and course of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and mood disorders. This study analyzed the effect of perceived criticism's association with suicidal ideation and attempts as well as its connection with the suicide related constructs thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness as described in the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. Fifty participants (66% female, MAge = 18.7), 18 of whom had previously made one or more suicide attempts, completed a battery of self-report assessments as well as two in-person, structured clinical interviews. Analyses demonstrated that perceived parental criticism is a significant indicator of suicide ideation (ß = .297, p = .003) and attempts (ß = .373, p < .001) and that perceived criticism from close friends is a significant indicator of suicide attempts (ß = .297, p = .006). Perceived criticism has a strong indirect effect on suicide ideation and attempts through its effect on thwarted belongingness, but not perceived burdensomeness, while controlling for mental illnesses. Some limitations of this study include the cross-sectional design and the use of a relatively small, restricted age sample. Treatment designed to mitigate perceived criticism and thwarted belongingness may be an important component in combatting suicidal ideation and attempts, particularly among young adults.

Negative emotions in veterans relate to suicide risk through feelings of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness.

BACKGROUND: Suicide rates among veterans are disproportionately high compared to rates among the general population. Veterans may experience a number of negative emotions (e.g., anger, self-directed hostility, shame, guilt) during periods of postwar adjustment and reintegration into civilian life that may uniquely confer risk for suicide. Mechanisms of these associations, however, are less well studied. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between negative emotions and suicide risk in veterans through the theoretical framework of the interpersonal theory of suicide. METHODS: A large sample of veterans (N = 541) completed measures assessing their negative emotions, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and suicide risk. RESULTS: Self-directed hostility and shame related indirectly to suicide risk through both perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Thwarted belongingness accounted for the association between anger and suicide risk, whereas perceived burdensomeness accounted for the relationship between guilt and suicide risk. LIMITATIONS: This study had a cross-sectional design and relied solely on self-report measures. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence for the role of negative emotions in conferring risk for suicide in veterans. Clinical implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.

Cross-cultural relevance of the Interpersonal Theory of suicide across Korean and U.S. undergraduate students.

This study investigated the cross-cultural relevance and validity of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (ITS) utilizing young adult samples from South Korea (n =554) and the United States (U.S.; n =390). To examine the ITS, all participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring Thwarted Belongingness, Perceived Burdensomeness, and Capability for Suicide. We examined whether each construct significantly predicted the severity of suicidal risk in both samples. We also determined whether the strength of the effects of Thwarted Belongingness and Perceived Burdensomeness on suicidal ideation differed between the two samples due to the greater degree of importance placed on interpersonal relationships in collectivistic cultures such as South Korea. Structural equation modeling was used to examine these hypotheses. Thwarted Belongingness, Perceived Burdensomeness, and Capability for Suicide significantly predicted elevated suicidal risk. However, there were no significant differences in the paths from Thwarted Belongingness or Perceived Burdensomeness to suicide risk between the South Korean and U.S. SAMPLES: These findings support the cross-cultural relevance and applicability of the ITS, whereby Thwarted Belongingness and Perceived Burdensomeness serve as indicators of suicide risk in both Western (U.S.) and East Asian (Korean) samples.

Sex Differences in Suicide-Related Symptoms in a Large Military Sample.

Little research has focused on suicide-related symptoms in female servicemembers, despite high rates of suicidal behaviors. This study examined sex differences in suicide-related risk factors in 3,374 U.S. Army Recruiters (91.9% male). Female servicemembers had a greater number of past major depressive and suicidal ideation episodes than males; there were no differences in suicide attempt histories or mental health visits. Females reported significantly fewer symptoms of current suicidal ideation, perceived burdensomeness, and acquired capability. No significant sex differences emerged for thwarted belongingness, insomnia, or agitation. Our findings provide evidence for sex differences in rates of suicide-related symptoms among military personnel.

The role of stressful life events preceding death by suicide: Evidence from two samples of suicide decedents.

Stressful life events (SLEs) are associated with increased risk for suicidal behavior. Less is known regarding the intensity of SLEs and how this may vary as a function of suicide attempt history. As a large percentage of suicide decedents do not have a history of suicidal behavior, SLEs precipitating suicide may help characterize suicidality in this understudied population. This paper examines the intensity, number, and accumulation of SLEs preceding death by suicide among decedents with varying suicide attempt histories. Suicide attempts, SLEs, and suicide methods were examined in two samples: 62 prison-based and 117 community-based suicide decedents. Regression was used to compare the level of stressor precipitating death by suicide in decedents who died on a first attempt versus multiple previous attempts. A non-significant trend was observed in the prison population which was supported by significant findings in the community-based sample. Decedents who died on a first attempt experienced a stressor of a lower magnitude when compared to decedents with multiple previous suicide attempts. We discuss the implications of these findings in relation to the stress-diathesis model for suicide.