Nonfatal Suicidal Behaviors in the Administrative Records of Activated U.S. Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers, 2004–2009

Ursano, Robert J.; Naifeh, James A.; Kessler, Ronald C.; González, Oscar; Fullerton, Carol S.; Mash, Holly Herberman; Riggs-Donovan, Charlotte A; Ng, Tsz Hin Hinz; Wynn, Gary H.; Dinh, Hieu M.; Kao, Tzu‐Cheg; Sampson, Nancy A.; Heeringa, Steven G.; Stein, Murray B.

doi:10.1080/00332747.2018.1460716

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Recently released data from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) indicate that, of the various military components, the U.S. Army National Guard continues to exhibit the highest overall suicide rate (35.3 per 100,000 for U.S. Army National Guard vs. 24.8 per 100,000 for Active Component and 22.9 per 100,000 for Reserve; DoD, 2019). In response to the high rates of suicide among soldiers in the U.S. Army National Guard, research initiatives such as the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS) have sought to better understand factors associated with suicide risk in this unique population (Ursano et al, 2018). One factor that has emerged as relevant to the elevated rate of suicide across the military and in the U.S. Army National Guard is firearms (Griffith, 2017).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…suicide among soldiers in the U.S. Army National Guard, research initiatives such as the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS) have sought to better understand factors associated with suicide risk in this unique population (Ursano et al, 2018). One factor that has emerged as relevant to the elevated rate of suicide across the military and in the U.S. Army National Guard is firearms (Griffith, 2017).…”

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confidence: 99%

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The intersection of PTSD symptoms and firearm storage practices within a suicide prevention framework: Findings from a U.S. Army National Guard sample.

Stanley

Anestis

2021

Psychological Services

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The unsafe storage of firearms is associated with increased risk for death by suicide. Therefore, efforts to elucidate modifiable factors associated with unsafe firearm storage have the potential to inform military suicide prevention efforts. PTSD hyperarousal symptoms are characterized in part by a heightened sense of being "on guard" for potential dangers and might contribute to an increased likelihood of storing firearms unsafely. This study sought to examine if more severe PTSD hyperarousal symptoms are associated with greater unsafe firearm storage practices. Participants were 327 U.S. Army National Guard personnel (M [SD] age ϭ 26.90 [7.45] years; 93.3% male; 77.8% White/Caucasian). Firearm storage practices were assessed via a structured questionnaire. PTSD symptoms (reexperiencing, avoidance, numbing, hyperarousal) were assessed via the PTSD Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M). Logistic regression analyses were utilized. Elevated PTSD hyperarousal symptoms were significantly associated with storing firearms loaded and/or in nonsecure locations, even after controlling for the effects of the other PTSD symptom clusters. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the pattern of findings remained consistent among participants with a deployment history and when controlling for the effects of agitation symptoms. Findings of this study suggest that U.S. Army National Guard personnel who experience elevated PTSD hyperarousal symptoms are more likely to store their firearms unsafely. Implications for military suicide prevention are discussed. Impact StatementPTSD hyperarousal symptoms are characterized in part by a heightened sense of being "on guard" for potential dangers. Among U.S. Army National Guard personnel who reported owning a personal firearm, elevated PTSD hyperarousal symptoms were associated with an increased likelihood of reporting unsafe firearm storage practices. Given high rates of firearm suicide among U.S. military service members, clinical efforts that bolster lethal means safety counseling approaches among military personnel with elevated PTSD hyperarousal symptoms may have important implications for military suicide prevention efforts.

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

The intersection of PTSD symptoms and firearm storage practices within a suicide prevention framework: Findings from a U.S. Army National Guard sample.

Stanley

Anestis

2021

Psychological Services

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“… 6 Recent studies have confirmed that suicidal behavior among veterans is multi-faceted and associated with both individual and societal-level factors. 10–12 Nevertheless, the influence of genetic factors cannot be ruled out. 20 , 21 In summary, we found both risk and protective factors for suicide among a multi-generational cohort of community veterans, including genetic risk factors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 6 , 9 Recent studies have confirmed that suicidal behavior among veterans is complex and associated with both individual and community-level factors. 10–12 In addition, some research suggests that veterans may not have a higher risk of suicide than comparable community-based non-veterans. 13 , 14 However, a great deal of opposing research suggests otherwise.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic and Psychosocial Risk Factors Associated with Suicide Among Community Veterans: Implications for Screening, Treatment and Precision Medicine

Boscarino¹,

Adams²,

Urosevich³

et al. 2022

PGPM

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Introduction Since veteran suicide is a concern and our knowledge of predictive factors is still limited, our objective was to assess risk factors for suicide, including genetic factors, among deployed veterans. Methods For this study, we surveyed 1730 veterans who were outpatients in a multi-hospital system in Pennsylvania. Altogether, 1041 veterans (60%) provided a DNA sample. The genetic risk variants investigated were within loci previously associated with PTSD and substance misuse, including CRHR1 , CHRNA5 , RORA , and FKBP5 genetic variations, which were used to calculate a polygenic risk score (range=0–8, mean=3.6, SD=1.4). Results Most veterans (56.2%) were deployed to Vietnam while significant numbers were deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other post-Vietnam conflicts. Overall, 95.1% of the veterans were male, their mean age was 56.2 (SD=12), and 95.6% were Caucasian. Among the veterans, 24% had high combat exposure. The prevalence of lifetime suicidal thoughts was 11.3%. Additionally, 5.7% ever developed a suicide plan or attempted suicide in their lifetimes. Among those with a history of a lifetime suicide attempt or suicide plan, the PTSD genetic risk score was significantly higher (OR=3.96 vs 3.55, p=0.033), but for suicidal thoughts, this association was not significant (p=0.717). In multivariable analysis (MVA) logistic regression, significant predictors of attempting suicide or having a suicide plan were history of depression (OR=5.04, p<0.001), PTSD genetic risk score (OR=1.25, p=0.036), history of childhood abuse/neglect (OR=2.24, p=0.009), and lifetime marijuana use (OR= 1.56, p=0.020). Conversely, rural residence was protective for suicide risk (OR=0.49; p=0.031). For suicidal thoughts, in the MVA genetic risk score was not significant (p=0.697), but history of child abuse/neglect (p<0.001), history of depression (p>0.001), low psychological resilience (p=0.004), and lifetime marijuana use (p=0.022) were significant. Discussion In this study, we identified genetic risk variants and other predictors for suicide among veterans that may have implications for future screening and clinical care. Further research is advised.

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Guard/Reserve service members and mental health outcomes following deployment: Results from the Veterans’ Health Study

Boscarino¹,

Adams

Urosevich³

et al. 2020

General Hospital Psychiatry

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Nonfatal Suicidal Behaviors in the Administrative Records of Activated U.S. Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers, 2004–2009

Abstract: Results provide a broad overview of nonfatal suicidal trends in the RC during the period 2004 through 2009. They also demonstrate that integration of multiple administrative data systems enriches analysis of the predictors of such events.

Cited by 6 publications

References 64 publications

The intersection of PTSD symptoms and firearm storage practices within a suicide prevention framework: Findings from a U.S. Army National Guard sample.

The intersection of PTSD symptoms and firearm storage practices within a suicide prevention framework: Findings from a U.S. Army National Guard sample.

Genetic and Psychosocial Risk Factors Associated with Suicide Among Community Veterans: Implications for Screening, Treatment and Precision Medicine

Guard/Reserve service members and mental health outcomes following deployment: Results from the Veterans’ Health Study

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