TY - JOUR
T1 - Combat experience and the acquired capability for suicide
AU - Bryan, Craig J.
AU - Cukrowicz, Kelly C.
AU - West, Christopher L.
AU - Morrow, Chad E.
PY - 2010/10
Y1 - 2010/10
N2 - Rising suicide rates are an increasing concern among military personnel. The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide proposes that three necessary factors are needed to die by suicide: feelings that one does not belong with other people, feelings that one is a burden on others or society, and an acquired capability to overcome the fear and pain associated with suicide. The current study tests the theory's proposal that acquired capability may be particularly influenced by military experience, because combat exposure may cause habituation to fear of painful experiences such as suicide. Utilizing clinical and nonclinical samples of military personnel deployed to Iraq, results of the current study indicate that a greater range of combat experiences predicts acquired capability above and beyond depression and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, previous suicidality, and other common risk factors for suicide. Combat experiences did not, however, predict perceived burdensomeness or thwarted belongingness. The authors discuss how combat experiences might serve as a mechanism for elevating suicide risk and implications for clinical interventions and suicide prevention efforts.
AB - Rising suicide rates are an increasing concern among military personnel. The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide proposes that three necessary factors are needed to die by suicide: feelings that one does not belong with other people, feelings that one is a burden on others or society, and an acquired capability to overcome the fear and pain associated with suicide. The current study tests the theory's proposal that acquired capability may be particularly influenced by military experience, because combat exposure may cause habituation to fear of painful experiences such as suicide. Utilizing clinical and nonclinical samples of military personnel deployed to Iraq, results of the current study indicate that a greater range of combat experiences predicts acquired capability above and beyond depression and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, previous suicidality, and other common risk factors for suicide. Combat experiences did not, however, predict perceived burdensomeness or thwarted belongingness. The authors discuss how combat experiences might serve as a mechanism for elevating suicide risk and implications for clinical interventions and suicide prevention efforts.
KW - Acquired capability
KW - Interpersonal-psychological theory
KW - Military
KW - Perceived burdensomeness
KW - Suicide
KW - Thwarted belongingness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77956909597&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/jclp.20703
DO - 10.1002/jclp.20703
M3 - Article
C2 - 20821797
AN - SCOPUS:77956909597
SN - 0021-9762
VL - 66
SP - 1044
EP - 1056
JO - Journal of Clinical Psychology
JF - Journal of Clinical Psychology
IS - 10
ER -