An Examination of Potential Misclassification of Army Suicides: Results from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers. Issue 3 (22nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cox, Kenneth L.; Nock, Matthew K.; Biggs, Quinn M.; Bornemann, Jennifer; Colpe, Lisa J.; Dempsey, Catherine L.; Heeringa, Steven G.; McCarroll, James E.; Ng, Tsz Hin; Schoenbaum, Michael; Ursano, Robert J.; Zhang, Bailey G.; Benedek, David M.
• Other Names: Stein Murray B. investigator.; Kessler Ronald C. investigator.; Cersovsky Steven investigator.; Aliaga Pablo A. investigator.; Nikki Benevides K. investigator.; Bliese Paul D. investigator.; Borja Susan investigator.; Bromet Evelyn J. investigator.; Brown Gregory G. investigator.; Campbell‐Sills Laura investigator.; Fullerton Carol S. investigator.; Gebler Nancy investigator.; Gifford Robert K. investigator.; Gilman Stephen E. investigator.; Holloway Marjan G. investigator.; Hurwitz Paul E. investigator.; Jain Sonia investigator.; Kao Tzu‐Cheg investigator.; Koenen Karestan C. investigator.; Lewandowski‐Romps Lisa investigator.; Mash Holly Herberman investigator.; Naifeh James A. investigator.; Raman Rema investigator.; Ramsawh Holly J. investigator.; Rosellini Anthony Joseph investigator.; Sampson Nancy A. investigator.; Santiago Patcho investigator.; Scanlon Michaelle investigator.; Smoller Jordan W. investigator.; Street Amy investigator.; Thomas Michael L. investigator.; Wang Leming investigator.; Wassel Christina L. investigator.; Wessely Simon investigator.; Wryter Christina L. investigator.; Wu Hongyan investigator.; Wynn Gary H. investigator.; Zaslavsky Alan M. investigator.;
• Is Part Of: Suicide and life-threatening behavior. Volume 47:Issue 3(2017:Jun.)
• Page Start: 257
• Page End: 265
• Publication Date: 2016-07-22
• Subjects: Suicide -- Periodicals; Suicide -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Suicide -- Periodicals; 362.28
• DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12280
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0363-0234

Abstract

Abstract : Debate continues about the accuracy of military suicide reporting due to concerns that some suicides may be classified as accidents to minimize stigma and ensure survivor benefits. We systematically reviewed records for 998 active duty Army deaths (510 suicides; 488 accident, homicide, and undetermined deaths; 2005‐2009) and, using research criteria, reclassified 8.2% of the nonsuicide cases to definite suicide (1), suicide probable (4), or suicide possible (35). The reclassification rate to definite suicide was only 0.2% (1/488). This low rate suggests that flagrant misclassification of Army deaths is uncommon and surveillance reports likely reflect the "true" population of Army suicides.