A test of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide among arrested domestic violence offenders

Childhood Risk Factors for Violent Ideations in Late Adolescence and Early Adulthood

BACKGROUND

Violent ideations (VIs) refer to thoughts, daydreams or fantasies of killing, inflicting serious physical harm or humiliating another person. Violent ideations are of particular interest at the intersection between mental health and violent behaviour. However, little is currently known about developmental trajectories of violent ideations in adolescence and early adulthood, and the extent to which childhood risk factors predict the likelihood of violent ideations.

AIMS

This study aims to address three key questions: (1) what are the developmental trends in violent thinking from ages 13 to 24, and how do they differ by sex? (2) To what extent can childhood risk factors predict VIs in late adolescence and early adulthood? (3) Are these associations sex-specific?

METHODS

Data were collected from the z-proso cohort study that is an on-going population-based longitudinal cohort study of 1555 participants. We use participant, teacher and parent reports to examine the extent to which childhood trait aggressiveness, poor impulse control, social rejection, an adverse family environment and violent media consumption predict the likelihood of violent ideations.

RESULTS

Descriptive analyses show that VIs strongly decline from late adolescence to early adulthood. We also find substantial between-individual stability in VIs between ages 17, 20 and 24. Indicators of childhood aggressiveness, poor impulse control, social rejection, an adverse family environment and adult media consumption were found to consistently predict increased violent ideations among males. Among females, self-reported aggressive behaviour, aversive parenting and a poor teacher-child bond had relatively strong associations with VIs. Overall, childhood risk factors were more predictive of VIs among male study participants than among females.

CONCLUSIONS

The propensity to experience VIs declines between ages 15 and 24. The experience of VIs during late adolescence to early adulthood had long-term associations with childhood risk factors indicative of general aggressiveness, low impulse control, social rejection, an adverse family context and violent media consumption. Most prospective associations were stronger for males than for females. This is consistent with the notion that a relatively stable violent potential is shaped in childhood for a larger proportion of males than females.

Co-occurrence of Intimate Partner Violence and Suicide Mortality Among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States

PURPOSE

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10-24 in the United States (US). Intimate partner violence (IPV) is also prevalent, and studies suggest that IPV is associated with youth suicide risk. However, limited research has investigated such associations. We conducted an in-depth analysis of youth suicides that were preceded by or coincided with IPV (i.e., IPV-related) to characterize how decedents were involved in IPV, IPV types experienced, and prior legal systems involvement.

METHODS

Using US National Violent Death Reporting System (2014-2018) data for suicide decedents aged 7-24 (n = 15,430 deaths), we manually reviewed case narratives for IPV-related suicides (n = 882) and coded details concerning IPV circumstances. We conducted bivariate analyses to compare IPV-related suicides to other (non-IPV) youth suicides and examined differences in antecedent circumstances between IPV perpetrators (n = 651) and victims (n = 81) using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among IPV-related suicides, most decedents were male and were described as IPV perpetrators. Physical IPV was most frequently reported. Compared to decedents with a history of IPV perpetration, decedents with a history of IPV victimization were more often female and younger. Narratives of IPV victim decedents had higher odds of reporting physical IPV; narratives of IPV perpetrator decedents had higher odds of reporting psychological IPV.

DISCUSSION

Future research should explore the relationship between IPV perpetration and suicide and potential impacts on surviving partners. Research and practice should seek to develop effective assessments and interventions for young people that address IPV and suicide risk simultaneously.

Participants in Court-mandated Intervention Programs for Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators with Substance Use Problems: A Systematic Review of Specific Risk Factors

Men with alcohol and/or other drug use problems (ADUPs) court-mandated to attend intervention programs for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators have been identified as a high-risk, highly resistant group of IPV perpetrators, as they present lower treatment adherence and higher dropout and recidivism rates. Previous research suggests that IPV perpetrators with ADUPs may require tailored interventions to address their specific risk factors. The present systematic review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines to identify the specific risk factors in men with and without ADUPs on entry to court-mandated perpetrator programs. The following databases were searched from inception to November 2021: Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Scopus. There was a screening of 3,995 records, and 29 quantitative studies were included in the review. Risk factors present in males court-mandated to perpetrator programs were grouped into four categories: sociodemographic risk factors, personality disorders and psychological adjustment, social-relational risk factors, and risk factors related to attitudes towards women. Results indicated that the main risk factors in IPV perpetrators with ADUPs, compared to those without, were higher clinical symptomatology (e.g., anger and impulsivity), personality disorders, poorer executive functions, having experienced more stressful life events, higher exposure to childhood trauma, lower intimate social support, and higher responsibility attributed to the offenders' personal context. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex phenomenon of IPV and ADUPs, and could help to inform key targets for perpetrator programs that may improve the well-being of their (ex)partners and increase the effectiveness of intervention programs for IPV perpetrators.

Suicide capability within the ideation-to-action framework: A systematic scoping review

Suicide capability is theorised to facilitate the movement from suicidal ideation to suicide attempt. Three types of contributors are posited to comprise suicide capability: acquired, dispositional, and practical. Despite suicide capability being critical in the movement from ideation-to-attempt, there has been no systematic synthesis of empirical evidence relating to suicide capability that would enable further development and refinement of the concept. This study sought to address this synthesis gap. A scoping review was conducted on suicide capability studies published January 2005 to January 2022. Eleven electronic databases and grey literature sources were searched returning 5,212 potential studies. After exclusion criteria application, 90 studies were included for final analysis. Results synthesis followed a textual narrative approach allocating studies based on contributors of suicide capability. Most studies focused on investigating only one factor within contributors. Painful and provocative events appear to contribute to acquired capability more so than fearlessness about death. Whilst emerging evidence for dispositional and practical contributors is promising, the small number of studies prevents further conclusions from being drawn. An unexpected additional cognitive contributor was identified. The focus of a single factor from most studies and the limited number of studies on contributors other than acquired capability limits the theoretical development and practical application of suicide capability knowledge. Given that suicide is a complex and multifaceted behaviour, future research that incorporates a combination of contributors is more likely to advance our understandings of suicide capability.

Suicide Ideation among Outpatients with Alcohol Use Disorder

Introduction

Individuals with substance use disorders, particularly those with alcohol use disorder (AUD), have a high risk of suicide. Therefore, identifying risk factors for suicide in these individuals is crucial.

Methods

This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of individuals with AUD who participated in an alcohol treatment program in central Taiwan during 2019–2020. We collected data using the Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener questionnaire, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Brief Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and a suicidal ideation question. Furthermore, we collected information on several related variables, namely, sex, age, marital status, years in school, employment status, family history of alcohol problems, age at first exposure to alcohol, duration of alcohol use, history of alcohol cessation, history of domestic violence, and history of drunk driving. In total, 136 individuals were recruited to participate in this study.

Results

The suicidal ideation group had significantly younger participants, a higher proportion of women, a higher proportion of participants with a history of domestic violence, a greater severity of alcohol addiction (based on both AUDIT and MAST scores), higher depression scores, higher anxiety scores, less social support, a lower quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)), and poorer sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI) compared with the nonsuicidal ideation group. The suicidal ideation score was correlated with the AUDIT score after age, and BDI, BAI, WHOQOL, and PSQI scores were controlled for (P = 0.034).

Conclusion

Individuals with higher AUDIT scores visiting a clinic for alcohol treatment might have a higher risk of suicidal ideation. Therefore, clinicians should pay close attention to the suicidal ideation problem in this population. Furthermore, appropriate medication or management programs for suicide prevention should be considered.

From depressive symptoms to suicide risk: Roles of sense of belongingness and acquired capability for suicide in patients with mental disorders

In order to prevent suicides in patients with mental disorders, it was critical to recognize the risk factors and explore the mechanism. Based on depressive symptoms, which were common in patients with mental disorders in consolidation period in China, we constructed a moderated mediating model under the framework of Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model of suicidal behaviour, and examined the mechanism of how depressive symptoms, thwarted belongingness, and acquired capability for suicide influenced suicide risk. In this study, data were collected from 164 patients through four questionnaires, and analyzed with PROCESS macro for SPSS (Hayes, 2008). The result showed that in the predictive effects of depressive symptoms on suicide risk, thwarted belongingness was a partial mediating variable, while acquired capability for suicide played a moderating role in the partial mediating model. Specifically, the predictive effects of depressive symptoms and thwarted belongingness, both as motivation variables, on suicide risk both occurred in the case of the high acquired capability of suicide, which was a volition variable. The research pointed out the interdependence of depressive symptoms and a sense of belongingness, and clarified the critical role of acquired capability for suicide. The integrated perspective could enhance the interpretation of reality, and enlightened those carrying out the practice of suicide intervention to patients with mental disorders.

From ideation to action: recent advances in understanding suicide capability

Suicide capability is one of few risk factors associated with suicide attempts among ideators. In the decade since the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide introduced the concept of acquired capability (i.e. the ability to face the fear and pain associated with death), understanding of the capability to attempt suicide has grown. Acquired (e.g. NSSI), dispositional (e.g. genetic), and practical contributors (e.g. access to firearms) appear to influence suicide capability via mechanisms such as the fear of death, persistence through pain, and familiarity with suicide methods. Self-report methods have shown mixed results, highlighting the importance of developing behavioral measures of suicide capability.