Ian H Stanley1, Joseph W Boffa1, Thomas E Joiner1. 1. a Ian H. Stanley, Joseph W. Boffa, and Thomas E. Joiner are affiliated with Florida State University in Tallahassee , Florida.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: A suicide attempt is at least somewhat life-threatening by definition and is, for some, traumatic. Thus, it is possible that some individuals may develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from a suicide attempt. METHOD: In this article, we consider whether one's suicide attempt could fulfill Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for a PTSD Criterion A event and contribute to the development of attendant PTSD symptoms (e.g., flashbacks, avoidance, shame/guilt, nightmares); discuss theoretical models of PTSD as they relate to suicide attempts; reflect on factors that might influence rates of suicide attempt-related PTSD; highlight methodological limitations that have hampered our understanding of suicide attempt-related PTSD; and posit areas for future scientific and clinical inquiry. RESULTS: Strikingly, the degree to which a suicide attempt leads to PTSD is unknown. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude with a call for research to systematically assess for suicide attempts alongside other potentially traumatic experiences (e.g., combat exposure, rape) that are included in standardized PTSD assessments.
OBJECTIVE: A suicide attempt is at least somewhat life-threatening by definition and is, for some, traumatic. Thus, it is possible that some individuals may develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from a suicide attempt. METHOD: In this article, we consider whether one's suicide attempt could fulfill Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for a PTSD Criterion A event and contribute to the development of attendant PTSD symptoms (e.g., flashbacks, avoidance, shame/guilt, nightmares); discuss theoretical models of PTSD as they relate to suicide attempts; reflect on factors that might influence rates of suicide attempt-related PTSD; highlight methodological limitations that have hampered our understanding of suicide attempt-related PTSD; and posit areas for future scientific and clinical inquiry. RESULTS: Strikingly, the degree to which a suicide attempt leads to PTSD is unknown. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude with a call for research to systematically assess for suicide attempts alongside other potentially traumatic experiences (e.g., combat exposure, rape) that are included in standardized PTSD assessments.
Authors: Daniel Thomas Chung; Christopher James Ryan; Dusan Hadzi-Pavlovic; Swaran Preet Singh; Clive Stanton; Matthew Michael Large Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2017-07-01 Impact factor: 21.596