Joseph W Boffa1, Savannah L King1, Gustavo Turecki2, Norman B Schmidt3. 1. Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. 2. McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada. 3. Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. Electronic address: schmidt@psy.fsu.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study served as an initial investigation of the role hopelessness may play in the relationship between PTSD symptom change and suicide intent, among a trauma-exposed, treatment-seeking sample. We explored whether the effect of PTSD symptom change on self-reported likelihood of a future suicide attempt (FSA) varies as a function of pre-treatment hopelessness, and whether reductions in hopelessness serve as a mechanism through which PTSD symptom change influences FSA likelihood. METHODS: Data was collected from participants (N = 159) in a larger randomized clinical trial of a suicide risk-factor intervention. Self-report questionnaires assessed hopelessness, PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, and FSA likelihood at pre-treatment and one-month follow-up. RESULTS: Pre-treatment hopelessness emerged as a significant moderator, such that overall PTSD symptom reductions were related to overall decreases in FSA likelihood among those at or above (but not those below) the sample mean of pre-treatment hopelessness. In a subsample of individuals who reported FSA likelihood > 0 and elevated hopelessness at pre-treatment, overall pre-treatment-to-month-one reductions in hopelessness significantly mediated the relationship between overall PTSD symptom reductions and decreased FSA likelihood during this same time period, even after accounting for depression symptom changes. LIMITATIONS: Data were limited to self-report measures (i.e., hopelessness, FSA likelihood). The intervention was not PTSD-specific. Mediation analyses were strictly statistical due to overlapping time-points. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary investigation suggests pre-treatment hopelessness may serve to identify trauma-exposed individuals for whom PTSD treatment would significantly reduce FSA likelihood. Moreover, reductions in FSA likelihood during treatment may be due in part to reduced hopelessness.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: This study served as an initial investigation of the role hopelessness may play in the relationship between PTSD symptom change and suicide intent, among a trauma-exposed, treatment-seeking sample. We explored whether the effect of PTSD symptom change on self-reported likelihood of a future suicide attempt (FSA) varies as a function of pre-treatment hopelessness, and whether reductions in hopelessness serve as a mechanism through which PTSD symptom change influences FSA likelihood. METHODS: Data was collected from participants (N = 159) in a larger randomized clinical trial of a suicide risk-factor intervention. Self-report questionnaires assessed hopelessness, PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, and FSA likelihood at pre-treatment and one-month follow-up. RESULTS: Pre-treatment hopelessness emerged as a significant moderator, such that overall PTSD symptom reductions were related to overall decreases in FSA likelihood among those at or above (but not those below) the sample mean of pre-treatment hopelessness. In a subsample of individuals who reported FSA likelihood > 0 and elevated hopelessness at pre-treatment, overall pre-treatment-to-month-one reductions in hopelessness significantly mediated the relationship between overall PTSD symptom reductions and decreased FSA likelihood during this same time period, even after accounting for depression symptom changes. LIMITATIONS: Data were limited to self-report measures (i.e., hopelessness, FSA likelihood). The intervention was not PTSD-specific. Mediation analyses were strictly statistical due to overlapping time-points. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary investigation suggests pre-treatment hopelessness may serve to identify trauma-exposed individuals for whom PTSD treatment would significantly reduce FSA likelihood. Moreover, reductions in FSA likelihood during treatment may be due in part to reduced hopelessness.
Authors: Matthew Jakupcak; Katherine D Hoerster; Alethea Varra; Steven Vannoy; Bradford Felker; Stephen Hunt Journal: J Nerv Ment Dis Date: 2011-04 Impact factor: 2.254
Authors: Keith S Cox; Emily R Mouilso; Margaret R Venners; Mahrie E Defever; Leticia Duvivier; Sheila A M Rauch; Thad Q Strom; Thomas E Joiner; Peter W Tuerk Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2016-05-27 Impact factor: 4.791
Authors: Jaimie L Gradus; Michael K Suvak; Blair E Wisco; Brian P Marx; Patricia A Resick Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2013-05-01 Impact factor: 8.128
Authors: Ian H Stanley; Joseph W Boffa; Lia J Smith; Jana K Tran; N Brad Schmidt; Thomas E Joiner; Anka A Vujanovic Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2018-05-24 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Joseph W Boffa; Ian H Stanley; Lia J Smith; Brittany M Mathes; Jana K Tran; Sam J Buser; Norman B Schmidt; Anka A Vujanovic Journal: J Nerv Ment Dis Date: 2018-03 Impact factor: 2.254
Authors: Uma Raman; Philip A Bonanno; Devika Sachdev; Aparna Govindan; Atharva Dhole; Oluwafeyijimi Salako; Jay Patel; Lama R Noureddine; Jessica Tu; Jenieve Guevarra-Fernández; Ashley Leto; Christopher Nemeh; Aesha Patel; Alexis Nicheporuck; Ashley Tran; Cheryl A Kennedy Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2020-07-31
Authors: Cristina Civilotti; Daniela Acquadro Maran; Sergio Garbarino; Nicola Magnavita Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-24 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Virginia M Tran; Laila Fozouni; Jana K Denkinger; Caroline Rometsch; Florian Junne; Patrick Vinck; Phuong Pham Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2021-07-12 Impact factor: 3.630