Predictors of Suicidal Ideation Across Deployment: A Prospective Study. Issue 9 (25th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cigrang, Jeffrey A.; Balderrama‐Durbin, Christina; Snyder, Douglas K.; Talcott, G. Wayne; Tatum, JoLyn; Baker, Monty; Cassidy, Daniel; Sonnek, Scott; Smith Slep, Amy M.; Heyman, Richard E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical psychology. Volume 71:Issue 9(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 828
• Page End: 842
• Publication Date: 2015-05-25
• Subjects: Psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22192
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9762

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jclp22192-sec-0010" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Concurrent and prospective predictors of suicidal ideation were examined in a sample of 318 United States Air Force Security Forces across a 1‐year deployment in Iraq and 6‐ to 9‐month follow‐up.</p> </sec> <sec id="jclp22192-sec-0020" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>Participants included 294 male and 24 female Airmen ranging in age from 18 to 46 years, predominantly (67%) Caucasian. Measures included self‐reports of postdeployment suicidal ideation, posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms, alcohol use, combat experiences, relationship distress, social support, and postdeployment readjustment.</p> </sec> <sec id="jclp22192-sec-0030" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Problem drinking before deployment prospectively predicted postdeployment suicidal ideation in univariate analyses. Depressive symptoms and problem drinking were significant independent predictors of postdeployment suicidal ideation. Findings demonstrated a ninefold increase in suicidal ideation among service members with even mild depressive symptoms if moderate problem drinking was also present.</p> </sec> <sec id="jclp22192-sec-0040" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Predeployment problem drinking may serve as a modifiable target for early intervention of suicidal ideation. Findings illuminate the compound risk of comorbid depressive symptoms and moderate problem drinking in predicting suicidal ideation.</p> </sec> </abstract>