Risk-Taking Behavior among Suicide Attempters

Clinical and Neuropsychological Features of Suicide Attempters in Tehran, Iran: A Comparative Study

Background

Identifying suicide risk factors and understanding the variations among different clinical groups can play a crucial role in preventing suicide. The objective of this study is to examine the distinctions in clinical and neuropsychological features among suicidal attempters, who have attempted in the last four weeks.

Methods

The design of the study was a case-control study. This study consisted of 62 participants who were assigned to the suicide attempters group (SA+MDD), non-suicidal depressed group (MDD), and healthy control group (HC). Clinical and neuropsychological evaluations were conducted for all participants. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate the normality of distribution. To compare the quantitative variables among the three groups, we employed Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Kruskal-Wallis. Post hoc analysis was conducted using Dunnett's test. A correlation analysis was conducted between clinical and neuropsychological variables.

Results

The results showed that there was no significant difference in neuropsychological functions among the three groups except Scaled Score Similarities (P=0.007). However, there were significant mean differences observed across the SA+MDD and HC groups for BHS (P<0.001), SSI (P<0.001), RFL (P<0.001), BPAQ (P=0.037), Anxiety-springer-1 (P<0.001), Anxiety-springer-2 (P<0.001), and BDI (P<0.001). Specifically, this difference was significant just for SSI (P<0.001), and RFL (P<0.001) when comparing the SA+MDD and MDD groups. Some significant correlations were seen between clinical and neuropsychological features among suicide attempters. Among neuropsychological features, Motor screening with BIS (P<0.001), Gambling test with SIS (P=0.04), Digit span with BPAQ (P=0.04), anxiety-springer-1 (P=0.07), and BDI (P=0.005), arithmetic task with SIS (P=0.004), BPAQ (P=0.004), anxiety-springer-1 (P=0.03), and anxiety-springer-2 (P=0.008), block design task with SIS (P=0.002), and BPAQ (P=0.03), Rapid Visual Information with BIS (P=0.01), anxiety-springer-2 (P=0.04), and BDI (P=0.003), digital symbol task with BIS (P=0.02), and BDI (P=0.008), and the Picture Completion task with BHS (P= 0.04), had more negative/positive correlation with clinical features.

Conclusion

Some clinical features such as hopelessness should be deemed serious among individuals with suicide attempt particularly among those who were discharged recently. neuropsychological findings revealed functional disturbances in the frontal, parietal and temporal areas of the subjects who are at risk of suicide attempt. The findings can inform the design and implementation of suicide prevention programs. Targeted interventions can be developed to address the identified risk factors and protective factors associated with suicide, such as increasing reasons for living, improving social connectedness, and building resilience.

Personality Pathology and Suicide Risk: Examining the Relationship Between DSM-5 Alternative Model Traits and Suicidal Ideation and Behavior in College-Aged Individuals

BACKGROUND

This study examines the link between personality pathology and suicide risk regarding the DSM-5 alternative model of personality disorders.

METHOD

The study investigates the facets, domains, internalizing, and externalizing of personality pathology and their correlation and predictive significance for suicidal ideation and behavior. This study examined a diverse and balanced sample of 1,398 college students aged between 18- and 29-year-olds from nine colleges in Kafrelshiekh University, with nearly equal representation of both genders (687 males, 711 females), a mix of rural and urban residents (807 rural, 591 urban), and a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds (15 very low SES, 84 low SES, 878 moderate SES, 364 high SES, and 57 very high SES). The Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 (PID-5) was utilized to assess personality pathology. Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) was used to evaluate suicidal ideation and behavior.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Logistic regression reveals significant associations between personality traits and suicidal ideation (e.g., Anhedonia, Suspiciousness) and behavior (e.g., Risk Taking, Depressivity). Negative Affect and Detachment are significantly linked to suicidal ideation, while Detachment, Disinhibition, and Psychoticism are linked to suicidal behavior. Internalizing personality pathology predicts both ideation and behavior, indicating a contribution to suicidal thoughts and self-destructive acts. Externalizing is a significant predictor of suicidal behavior.

Impulsivity traits and suicide related outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis using the UPPS model

BACKGROUND

The affective, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of impulsivity involved in suicide-related outcomes can be investigated through the UPPS model, which conceptualizes these facets in multidimensional terms related to negative and positive urgency, lack of premeditation and perseverance, and sensation seeking. This systematic review and meta-analysis provided a comprehensive understanding of the role of all facets of impulsivity in the development of suicidal ideation and behaviors.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search on six databases (PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science) until May 5,2023. Overall, 49 studies met the criteria for systematic review, of which 37 were included in a meta-analysis of data from 17.898 individuals. Additional moderation analyses included age, gender, sample status, country of study conduct, assessment instruments, type of suicide-related outcome, study quality, and research design.

RESULTS

We found significant relationships between aspects of impulsivity and suicide-related outcomes. Specially, affective facets related to impulsivity showed a stronger association with suicidal ideations and attempts than cognitive and behavioral dimensions, recommending the main involvement of emotional aspects-positive and negative-in suicide-related dimensions.

LIMITATIONS

The limited number of studies may have negatively impacted the power of moderation analyses. In addition, for most dimensions of impulsivity, the limited number of longitudinal studies did not allow to test the moderating role of research design.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports the role of impulsivity in suicidal ideation and behavior, identifying the affective component of impulsivity as the most involved, providing a significant contribution from a clinical and diagnostic point of view.

Impulsivity and Risk-Taking Behavior in School-Going Adolescents

Introduction Impulsivity (or impulsiveness) and risk-taking behavior are significant concerns as the adolescent population is at a higher risk of injuries and violence, unhealthy sexual behaviors, and drug- and alcohol-related problems. The early identification of these traits in adolescents can prove beneficial through timely interventions. This study was conducted to assess impulsive behavior and risk-taking behavior among school-going adolescents in New Delhi, India, and to study the association, if any, between the two. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among 571 students of classes 9th-10th in three randomly selected schools in a part of Delhi, India. Barratt Impulsiveness Scale - Brief (BIS-Brief) was used to evaluate impulsivity, and risk-taking behavior was assessed using the RT-18 tool. Results The majority (72.3%) of the 571 students were aged 14-15 years. Among the students, 56.0% were males. The impulsivity score obtained ranged from 8 to 30, with a mean score of 15.7 (SD ±4.1). The risk-taking score ranged from 2 to 18, with a mean score of 9.9 (SD ±2.9). Impulsivity was seen to be significantly higher among the female students (p=0.004). The risk-taking behavior was significantly higher among the students from government schools, among the females, and among those who used the internet more. There was a significant direct association between impulsivity and risk-taking behavior among the students (correlation coefficient 0.301, p<0.001). Conclusion The study results showed that the mean impulsivity and risk-taking scores were comparable to other studies in adolescent age groups done internationally using the same tools. Impulsivity and risk-taking behavior were both found to be higher among females. There was a significant direct association between impulsivity and risk-taking.

Suicidal Ideation in the Australian Construction Industry: Prevalence and the Associations of Psychosocial Job Adversity and Adherence to Traditional Masculine Norms

BACKGROUND

Suicide in the Australian Construction Industry (ACI) is a significant issue, however minimal understanding of suicidal ideation prevalence, as well as the potential role psychosocial job adversity and increased adherence to traditional masculine norms may play in its presence, is apparent.

METHOD

A representative sample of Australian men (n = 11,132) were used to create initial understandings of prevalence of suicidal ideation (past two weeks), psychosocial job adversities and level of adherence to traditional masculine norms for the ACI (n = 1721) in comparison to a general population comprised of the remaining employed males from Other Industries (n = 9411). Additionally, due to their reported increased suicide vulnerability investigation of associations between suicidal ideation, psychosocial job adversities and adherence to traditional masculine norms for the ACI were undertaken.

RESULTS

No difference in suicidal ideation prevalence was reported between the ACI and those employed in Other Industries (p > 0.05), however, increased prevalence of psychosocial job adversities (p ≤ 0.001) and adherence to traditional masculine norms (p ≤ 0.001) for the ACI was seen. Significant multivariate associations between suicidal ideation, psychosocial job adversities (OR = 1.79, 95%CI [1.12-2.85]) and two domains of traditional masculine norms, self-reliance (OR = 1.29, 95%CI [1.09-1.51]) and risk-taking (OR = 1.20, 95%CI [1.01-1.41]), were reported.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest need for increased understanding of later stage suicidal trajectory drivers in the ACI. Findings indicate need for prevention group/industry concentration on mitigation of psychosocial job adversities, as well as a more nuanced and increased discussion of the negative role of self-reliance and risk-taking domains of traditional masculine norms may play in ACI suicidal ideation, as opposed to the construct as a whole.