Post‐traumatic symptom severity mediates the association between combat exposure and suicidal ideation in veterans

Abstract

Objective Previous studies of military veterans have produced mixed findings regarding whether combat exposure is directly related to suicidal ideation or is indirectly related to suicidal ideation via its influence on other factors. The present study used a longitudinal design to test the hypothesis that post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity mediates the effect of combat exposure on suicidal ideation in veterans. Method Participants included 319 post‐9/11 veterans (83.4% male; 42.1% White/52.1% Black; Mage = 39.7) assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Structural equation modeling and bootstrapped confidence intervals were employed to examine the direct and indirect relationships between combat exposure, suicidal ideation, and PTSD symptom severity. Results Results from the mediation model, in which demographic variables and non‐combat trauma were included as covariates, revealed that the indirect effect of combat exposure on suicidal ideation via PTSD symptom severity was statistically significant, accounting for 64.1% of the covariance between combat exposure and suicidal ideation. Conclusions This study provides longitudinal evidence that the effects of combat exposure on suicidal ideation are mediated by PTSD symptom severity, suggesting the importance of targeting such symptoms in treatment to mitigate suicide risk among veterans with combat exposure.

Surviving the Inferno in Hopes of Reuniting with Family": Coping Strategies among Civilian Abductees Released from Captivity in Gaza

“…This environment engendered a pervasive atmosphere of fear and unpredictability, akin to complex trauma, in which abuse could occur without warning [1,11]. The interpersonal coping strategies employed by the abductees indicate that despite the severe conditions, they were occasionally successful in mitigating harm and enhancing their survival prospects [48][49][50]. Not only did this coping strategy provide certain bene ts, it also may have afforded them a degree of control and an escape from the absolute helplessness their captors intended to impose [51].…”

Subjective cognitive difficulties and posttraumatic stress disorder interact to increase suicide risk among middle-aged and older US military veterans

“…Dementiarelated neurodegeneration of limbic structures associated with emotion regulation may also increase risk of PTSD re-emergence (Ruzich, et al, 2005;van Achterberg and Southwick, 2001). As such, those reporting SCD may also be experiencing an increase in severity or frequency of intrusive memories, hypervigilance, and hyperarousal that are known to have a dose-dependent relationship with psychological distress and SI (Glenn et al, 2020;Surís, et al, 2011).…”