TY - JOUR
T1 - Trajectories of Affective Response as Warning Signs for Suicide Attempts
T2 - An Examination of the 48 Hours Prior to a Recent Suicide Attempt
AU - Bagge, Courtney L.
AU - Littlefield, Andrew K.
AU - Glenn, Catherine R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, © The Author(s) 2017.
PY - 2017/3/1
Y1 - 2017/3/1
N2 - Change in affect is widely considered a warning sign for suicidal behavior. However, no study to date has directly examined such within-person changes during the hours preceding a suicide attempt. This study aimed to identify subgroups differentiated by affective patterns leading up to their suicide attempt, determine whether types of affect can be considered warning signs among these subgroups, and identify subgroup clinical correlates. Participants included 216 suicide attempters presenting to the hospital within 24 hours of their attempt. A timeline follow-back methodology was used to assess near-term behaviors and affect prior to the attempt, and a battery of measures assessed distal clinical correlates and attempt characteristics. Four affective subgroups were identified and were distinguished by specific affective warning signs and clinical correlates. Findings indicate that affective changes are warning signs for some, but not all, suicide attempters and highlight the exceptional challenge of predicting imminent risk for suicide.
AB - Change in affect is widely considered a warning sign for suicidal behavior. However, no study to date has directly examined such within-person changes during the hours preceding a suicide attempt. This study aimed to identify subgroups differentiated by affective patterns leading up to their suicide attempt, determine whether types of affect can be considered warning signs among these subgroups, and identify subgroup clinical correlates. Participants included 216 suicide attempters presenting to the hospital within 24 hours of their attempt. A timeline follow-back methodology was used to assess near-term behaviors and affect prior to the attempt, and a battery of measures assessed distal clinical correlates and attempt characteristics. Four affective subgroups were identified and were distinguished by specific affective warning signs and clinical correlates. Findings indicate that affective changes are warning signs for some, but not all, suicide attempters and highlight the exceptional challenge of predicting imminent risk for suicide.
KW - acute risk factor
KW - affect
KW - suicide attempt
KW - warning sign
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85016239751&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/2167702616681628
DO - 10.1177/2167702616681628
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85016239751
SN - 2167-7026
VL - 5
SP - 259
EP - 271
JO - Clinical Psychological Science
JF - Clinical Psychological Science
IS - 2
ER -