It is widely accepted that suicidal behavior often occurs with little planning. We propose, however, that suicidal behavior is rarely if ever impulsive-that it is too frightening and physically distressing to engage in without forethought-and that suicidal behavior in impulsive individuals is accounted for by painful and fearsome behaviors capable of enhancing their capacity for suicide. We conducted a meta-analysis of the association between trait impulsivity and suicidal behavior and a critical review of research considering the impulsiveness of specific suicide attempts. Meta-analytic results suggest the relationship between trait impulsivity and suicidal behavior is small. Furthermore, studies examining a mediating role of painful and provocative behaviors have uniformly supported our model. Results from our review suggest that researchers have been unable to adequately measure impulsivity of attempts and that measures sensitive to episodic planning must be developed to further our understanding of this phenomenon.

Perceptions regarding institutional betrayal appear to be highly relevant to MST and its sequelae. These findings underscore the importance of Veterans' perceptions of the military institution's efforts to prevent and respond to MST to individual recovery from sexual trauma. Additional research regarding the association between institutional betrayal and health-related outcomes is needed.

The Military Suicide Research Consortium (MSRC) developed a 57-item questionnaire assessing suicide risk factors, referred to as the Common Data Elements (CDEs), in order to facilitate data sharing and improve collaboration across independent studies. All studies funded by MSRC are required to include the CDEs in their assessment protocol. The CDEs include shortened measures of the following: current and past suicide risk, lethality and intent of past suicide attempts, hopelessness, thwarted belongingness, anxiety sensitivity, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, traumatic brain injury, insomnia, and alcohol abuse. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the CDE items drawn from empirically validated measures. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the overall structure of the CDE items, and confirmatory factor analyses were used to evaluate the distinct properties of each scale. Internal consistencies of the CDE scales and correlations with full measures were also examined. Merged data from 3,140 participants (81.0% military service members, 75.6% male) across 19 MSRC-funded studies were used in analyses. Results indicated that all measures exhibited adequate internal consistency, and all CDE shortened measures were significantly correlated with the corresponding full measures with moderate to strong effect sizes. Factor analyses indicated that the shortened CDE measures performed well in comparison with the full measures. Overall, our findings suggest that the CDEs are not only brief but also provide psychometrically valid scores when assessing suicide risk and related factors that may be used in future research. (PsycINFO Database Record

Military sexual trauma (MST) has been studied extensively in women; however, knowledge regarding the ways in which men are affected by MST remains limited. The present study used a phenomenological approach to describe the lived experiences of men exposed to MST. Participants were 18 male veterans who experienced MST and completed semistructured qualitative interviews. Thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) was used to identify themes. Participants described disruptions to their sense of masculinity and questioned their sexuality following MST. They described altered attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to prevent revictimization, in addition to avoidant coping (e.g., substance use). Men described secrecy regarding MST, which was perceived to be deleterious over time. Disclosure of MST and the response to disclosure appeared to be pivotal: Negative reactions to disclosure were described as common and harmful; supportive reactions, though rare, seemed to facilitate recovery. Men expressed experiencing a sense of personal and institutional betrayal, in addition to becoming distrustful, hypervigilant, and disillusioned after experiencing MST. Struggles with intimacy, isolation, and relationship difficulties also ensued. These phenomenological findings illuminate the complex and varied ways in which male veterans appear to experience MST and its sequelae. Results highlight several potential avenues for further research and provide guidance for how clinicians and institutions can support male survivors of MST in their recovery.