PTSD from a suicide attempt: An empirical investigation among suicide attempt survivors

Abstract

Objectives Suicide attempts (SAs), by definition, represent a risk for serious injury or death; thus, one's SA may contribute to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, empirical data on this topic are lacking. This study aimed to characterize the phenomenology, rate, and associated features of PTSD following one's SA. Method A total of 386 adult SA survivors recruited from web‐based sources participated. Results Overall, 27.5% (95% confidence interval = 23.1–31.9%) of SA survivors screened positive for a probable SA‐related PTSD diagnosis. Individuals with a probable SA‐related PTSD diagnosis reported greater current suicidal intent than those without this probable diagnosis; this association was significant at low, but not high, levels of depression symptoms. Conclusions A substantial proportion of SA survivors may experience SA‐related PTSD. SA‐related PTSD may be a viable assessment and intervention target to improve the quality of life and to reduce future suicide risk among SA survivors.

Traumatizing Oneself—Deep Wrist Injuries Self‐Inflicted with Suicidal Intention are Associated with More Severe PTSD Symptomatology than Similar Injuries from Accidents

“…This is in accordance with studies finding an increased risk of development of PTSD after trauma in persons with preexisting major depressive disorder (Breslau, Davis, Peterson, & Schultz, 1997; Digangi et al, 2013). Other known PTSD risk factors, such as gender (Brewin et al, 2000), did not predict PTSD in our study, which is in accordance with the study by Stanley, Hom et al (2019). Whether these results are false negatives due to small sample sizes or whether known risk factors for PTSD in general do not apply to saPTSD must be answered by future studies.…”

“…In contrast, nearly half of the patients after DWI with suicidal intention had probable PTSD at the time of follow‐up. Stanley, Hom et al (2019), and Bill et al (2012) found similar rates of suicide attempt‐associated PTSD (saPTSD, 27.5% and 46.7%), speaking to the validity of our findings. Thus, traumatization in the context of a suicide attempt may be a hitherto unknown risk factor for PTSD (OR = 14.0).…”

“…Therefore, in addition to safety planning and treatment of the mental disorder that led to wrist cutting, suicide attempt survivors should be monitored for PTSD symptoms. This is of special importance as saPTSD seems to be associated with suicidal intention independently of depression (Stanley, Hom, et al, 2019). Preliminary considerations regarding the treatment of saPTSD have been proposed by Stanley, Boffa et al (2019).…”

“…Every year, 4‰ of the adult world population attempts suicide (World Health Organization, 2014), which is defined as “a potentially self‐injurious behavior associated with at least some intent to die” (Turecki & Brent, 2016). The majority of persons attempting suicide poison themselves or cut their wrists (Asnis et al, 1993; Buron et al, 2016; Gysin‐Maillart, Schwab, Soravia, Megert, & Michel, 2016; Oh et al, 2014; Stanley, Hom, Boffa, Stage, & Joiner, 2019), which more than 98% survive (Mergl et al, 2015; Spicer & Miller, 2000; Yip et al, 2012). Needless to say that these survivors are in urgent need of empathic and evidence‐based aftercare.…”

“…Recently, Stanley, Boffa, and Joiner (2019) noted that a suicide attempt by definition entails at least some threat to physical integrity and life and therefore theoretically qualifies as an A1 criterion for PTSD (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). So far, there are only two empirical studies addressing this question, which have found suicide attempt‐related PTSD (saPTSD) in 46.7% and 27.5% of cases, respectively (Bill et al, 2012; Stanley, Hom, et al, 2019). Additionally, Bill et al (2012) found saPTSD to be specifically connected to the suicide attempt, as it had no association with other traumatic events or the habitual coping style.…”