Use of different sources of stress to predict hopelessness and suicide ideation in a college population.

This investigation expands on past research by (1) evaluating differing sources of stress (negative life events and hassles) as predictors of both hopelessness and suicide ideation and (2) testing for the mediating role of hopelessness. In Study 1, 143 introductory psychology students completed measures of negative life events, hassles, and hopelessness. Hassles accounted for a unique increment in hopelessness scores after negative life events were controlled for statistically. In Study 2, 250 introductory psychology students completed measures of negative life events, hassles, hopelessness, and suicide ideation. Results of Study 2 replicate and extend those of Study 1; hassles accounted for unique increments in both hopelessness and suicide ideation scores after negative life events were controlled for statistically. In addition, the results of Study 2 suggest that hopelessness mediates the relation between stress and suicidal thoughts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Suicide, hopelessness, and social desirability: A test of an interactive model.

We examined the relationships among suicidal indices, hopelessness, and social desirability. Both hopelessness and a measure of social desirability that reflected a sense of general capability were significant indicators of suicidal manifestations. In particular, hierarchical multiple regression procedures demonstrated that hopelessness and social desirability interacted in the prediction of suicide variables. Results generalized across various clinical diagnostic subgroups of psychiatric patients and a sample of prisoners and across different clinically evaluated and self-reported indices of suicidal behavior. Findings are interpreted to mean that a sense of general capability buffers the link of hopelessness to suicidal behavior. Implications for understanding the cognitions associated with suicide and for improving prediction of persons at risk are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Suicide ideation in a college population: A test of a model.

Examined a model of suicide behavior with 65 undergraduate suicide ideators (as measured by a self-report adaptation of the Scale for Suicide Ideators). The model focuses on the relationship between negative life stress, cognitive rigidity and/or poor problem-solving skills, hopelessness, and suicide ideation and attempting. The model proposes that individuals deficient in the capacity for divergent thinking are cognitively unprepared to cope with the high levels of life stress observed in suicide attempters and, as a result, are likely to become hopeless under such circumstances. This hopelessness resulting from the individual's inability to engage in effective problem-solving places the individual at risk for suicidal behavior. Ss were administered a battery of tests that included the Self-Rating Depression Scale, Life Experiences Survey, and Hopelessness Scale. Results indicate that Ss were under higher levels of negative life stress, were more hopeless, and had higher levels of depression than their nonideating peers. Although no relationship was observed between suicide ideation and cognitive rigidity or between suicide intent and cognitive rigidity, poor problem-solvers under high stress were found to be significantly higher on suicide intent than any other group. Results support a stress/problem-solving model of suicidal behavior in which poor problem-solvers under high life stress are considered to be at risk for depression, hopelessness, and suicidal behavior. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A longitudinal investigation of depression, hopelessness, social support, and major and minor life events and their relation to suicidal ideation in adolescents

The longitudinal relationship of psychological and social-environmental factors with adolescent suicidal ideation over a 1-year-period was examined in a sample of 374 high school students. Students were assessed twice over a 1-year period with measures of depression, hopelessness, major negative life events, daily hassles, social support, and suicidal ideation. At the initial assessment, daily hassles and negative life events for males and social support and depression for females were significant factors related to suicidal ideation levels 1 year later. Changes in depression and hopelessness were significantly related to changes in suicidal ideation over the 1 year interval for males and females. Differences found between males and females in the relationship of psychological and social-environmental variables with suicidal ideation supports the need to examine gender specific relationships when conducting research on suicidal behavior in adolescents.     

Risk and protective factors for suicidal behavior in abused African American women.

This study examined risk and protective factors that differentiate low-income, abused African American women (N=200) who attempted suicide from those who had never made a suicide attempt. Results from multivariate analyses revealed that numerous and/or severe negative life events, a history of child maltreatment, high levels of psychological distress and depression, hopelessness about the future, and alcohol and drug problems were factors associated with attempter status. Protective factors associated with nonattempter status included hopefulness, self-efficacy, coping skills, social support, and effectiveness in obtaining material resources. Culturally competent intervention approaches for abused women should target increasing their protective factors and reducing their risk factors to decrease the likelihood that these women engage in suicidal behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward a cognitive therapy for suicidal individuals.

Explores whether studies of cognitive characteristics of the suicidal individual differentiated the suicidal patient from other patients sufficiently enough to warrant a distinct treatment strategy. The cognitive characteristics of suicidal patients are reviewed, and it is argued that a wide assortment of studies has consistently revealed cognitive differences between suicidal and nonsuicidal individuals that are not attributable to depth of depression or degree of psychopathology. Some of the specific observed tendencies of suicidal patients are discussed, including cognitive rigidity, dichotomous thinking, ineffective problem solving, a view of suicide as a desirable solution, hopelessness, and cognitive distortions. Possible interventions for use with suicidal patients are suggested. (63 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Expression and functional analysis of glycosyl-phosphatidyl inositol-linked CD46 in transgenic mice

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a high level of hopelessness after treatment of a depressive episode is an indicator of a history of lifetime suicide attempts in older people. DESIGN: Groups of suicide attempters, suicidal ideators, and nonsuicidal patients were compared via analysis of variance with respect to levels of hopelessness, depression, anxiety, and global functioning before and after treatment of depression. SETTING: An outpatient research clinic providing two treatment protocols of late-life mood disorders. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 107 consecutive outpatients (mean age 67) with major depression who responded to treatment. MEASUREMENTS: Levels of hopelessness, severity of depression, anxiety, and global functioning were compared across the three groups at the beginning of treatment and at remission. RESULTS: After remission there were no differences between the three groups in depression severity, anxiety, and global functioning. Hopelessness remained significantly higher in the attempter group than among ideators or nonsuicidal patients. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide attempts, the most important risk factor for subsequent suicide, are associated with persistent, high levels of hopelessness following remission of depression in late-life patients. These findings suggest that treatments designed specifically to lower hopelessness (such as cognitive, behavioral or interpersonal therapy) may be effective in reducing suicide risk.     

Hopelessness and social desirability as moderator variables in predicting suicidal behavior.

Hopelessness has been identified as the major variable linking depression to suicidal intent. M. M. Linehan and S. L. Nielsen (see record 1982-01443-001) found that the Hopelessness Scale was strongly contaminated with social desirability. Results from 54 attempted-suicide patients (mean age 26.9 yrs) show that hopelessness was a key variable in predicting suicidal behavior and ideation. Social desirability had no influence on hopelessness, and it is concluded that the Hopelessness Scale is appropriate for use in suicide assessment. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-reported suicidal ideation in adolescent psychiatric inpatients.

In an investigation of the psychosocial correlates of suicidal ideation in adolescent inpatients, the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI) was administered to 108 inpatients between 12 and 17 yrs of age who were diagnosed with mixed psychiatric disorders. A series of multiple regression analyses that controlled for gender, ethnicity, age, diagnosis of a mood disorder, and a history of a past suicide attempt were then used to examine the relationships of the Beck Depression Inventory, Anxiety Inventory, and Hopelessness Scale (BHS) with the BSI. Regardless of the series, the BHS contributed unique variance to the explanation of the BSI scores. The results are discussed as supporting the use of the BSI with adolescent inpatients and indicating that hopelessness is related to suicidal ideation when depression is controlled for. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessment of suicide ideation and parasuicide: Hopelessness and social desirability.

196 Seattle area shoppers completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Edwards Social Desirability Scale (ESDS), and Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire. Results show that hopelessness was related to reports of past suicidal behavior, frequency of current suicidal ideation, and Ss' predictions of future suicide potential. Social desirability was related to suicidal behavior and ideation. A marked correlation existed between hopelessness and ESDS scores. Attempts to control statistically for the covariation of social desirability with hopelessness left little useful variation in predictions based on hopelessness. This was especially true among Ss who had formerly been seriously suicidal. Results may indicate a need for caution in using self-report measures of hopelessness in examining suicidality. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Suicidal thinking among adolescents with a history of attempted suicide

OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk of suicidal plans and ideation, depression, and other factors (low self-esteem, loneliness, fatalism, pessimism) among adolescents with a lifetime history of attempted suicide. METHOD: A self-administered questionnaire was used in a school-based survey of five middle schools (grades 6 through 8) enrolling 6,400 students. Usable questionnaires were obtained from 5,423 (85.3%). Data were obtained on a wide range of constructs including recent and lifetime suicide attempts, recent and lifetime suicide plans, recent ideation, symptoms of DSM-IV major depression, self-esteem, pessimism, loneliness, and fatalism. RESULTS: Data on crude prevalence showed thoughts about death, wishing to be dead, thoughts of suicide, and suicide plans were all significantly higher among youths with a history of attempts. Suicidal thinking was related to being more lonely, more fatalistic, and more pessimistic, and to less self-esteem, in addition to depression and a history of attempts. Multivariate analyses revealed the strongest factors associated with current suicidal thinking were history of attempts (odds ratio [OR] = 3.50), depression (OR = 5.34), and recent life stress (OR = 2.64). Compared with youths with none of the factors examined, those with six or more were at extreme risk (OR = 67.87). CONCLUSIONS: The strong association between history of suicide attempts, current ideation, and depression indicates that past suicide attempts occur in the context of other signs of psychosocial dysfunction. Given the paucity of epidemiological data on the natural history of suicidal behaviors among youths, more epidemiological studies of the antecedents and consequences of the range of suicidal behaviors among children and adolescents are needed. Given the high risk of subsequent suicidal behaviors by youths who have attempted but not completed suicide, this constitutes a high-risk population on which future research should focus.     

Longitudinal trajectories and predictors of adolescent suicidal ideation and attempts following inpatient hospitalization.

Remarkably little is known regarding the temporal course of adolescent suicidal ideation and behavior, the prediction of suicidal attempts from changes in suicidal ideation, or the prediction of suicidal attempts after accounting for suicidal ideation as a predictor. A sample of 143 adolescents 12-15 years old was assessed during psychiatric inpatient hospitalization and again at 3, 6, 9, 15, and 18 months postdischarge through a series of structured interviews and parent- and adolescent-reported instruments. Symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, externalizing psychopathology, hopelessness, and engagement in several forms of self-injurious/suicidal behaviors (i.e., suicide threats/gestures, plans, nonsuicidal self-injury [NSSI]) were assessed. Latent growth curve analyses revealed a period of suicidal ideation remission between baseline and 6 months following discharge, as well as a subtle period of suicidal ideation reemergence between 9 and 18 months postdischarge. Changes in suicidal ideation predicted suicide attempts. After accounting for the effects of suicidal ideation, baseline suicide threats/gestures also predicted future suicide attempts. Higher adolescent-reported depressive symptoms, lower parent-reported externalizing symptoms, and higher frequencies of NSSI predicted weaker suicidal ideation remission slopes. Findings underscore the need for more longitudinal research on the course of adolescent suicidality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Coping strategies, self-perceptions, hopelessness, and perceived family environments in depressed and suicidal children.

This study evaluated factors associated with depression and suicidal behavior in 8–13-year-old child psychiatric inpatients. Major differences were found in the correlates of depression and suicidal behavior. Suicidal behavior was associated with a tendency for children to perceive their families as low in control and cohesiveness and high in conflict. Suicidal children also spontaneously generated significantly fewer cognitive mediational strategies for coping with stressful life events than nonsuicidal children. Depression was associated primarily with variables reflecting negative cognitive biases. However, this negative bias was not generalized across all situational contexts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The prediction of suicidal intent in depressed patients

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between suicidal ideation or suicidal attempts and severity of depression, presence of personality disorders, and sociodemographic factors in a population of depressed in-patients. A total of 338 adult depressed psychiatric in-patients were examined and classified according to DSM-III criteria as having major depression with or without melancholic or psychotic features, adjustment disorder with depressed mood or dysthymic disorder. Scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Zung Self-Rating Depression and Anxiety Scales (SDS and SAS) were measured. We found that suicidal ideation was significantly related to severity of depression (according to the HDRS and all self-rating scales), a lower global assessment of functioning the year before hospitalization, and previous psychiatric hospitalizations. The items with the strongest predictive value for suicidal ideation were hopelessness, depressed mood, feelings of guilt, loss of interest and low self-esteem. These symptoms predicted 43% of the variance in suicidal ideation. None of the above predictors of suicidal ideation was related to suicidal attempts. Depressed patients with a personality disorder attempted significantly more suicidal attempts and showed more suicidal ideation than depressed patients without personality disorder. No significant correlations were found between suicidal ideation or suicide attempts and gender, marital status, employment status or psychosocial stressors during the previous 6 months.     

Factors that mediate and moderate the link between partner abuse and suicidal behavior in African American women.

Findings from a study comparing partner abuse in African American women suicide attempters (n?=?148) and nonattempters (n?=?137) revealed higher rates of physical and nonphysical partner abuse among attempters than their demographically similar nonsuicidal counterparts. The partner abuse–suicidal behavior link was mediated by psychological distress, hopelessness, and drug use and moderated by social support. Results also revealed that nonphysical partner abuse accounted for unique variance in the prediction of suicide attempt status beyond that attributable to childhood maltreatment. Implications of the findings for assessing both suicidal and abused women are discussed, and recommendations for preventive interventions for women at risk for suicidal behavior are provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The measurement of pessimism: The Hopelessness Scale.

Administered a scale designed to quantify hopelessness to 294 hospitalized suicide attempters, 23 general medical outpatients, 62 additional hospitalized suicide attempters, and 59 depressed psychiatric patients. The scale had a Kuder-Richardson-20 internal consistency coefficient of .93 and correlated well with the Stuart Future Test (SFT) and the pessimism item of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; .60 and .63, respectively). The scale was also sensitive to changes in the patient's state of depression over time, as evidenced by a correlation of .49 with change scores on the SFT and .49 with the change scores on the BDI. Findings also indicate that depressed patients have an unrealistically negative attitude toward the future and that seriousness of suicidal intent is more highly correlated with negative expectancies than with depression. A principal-components factor analysis revealed 3 factors which tapped affective, motivational, and cognitive aspects of hopelessness. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Main predictions of the interpersonal–psychological theory of suicidal behavior: Empirical tests in two samples of young adults.

The interpersonal–psychological theory of suicidal behavior (T. E. Joiner, 2005) makes 2 overarching predictions: (a) that perceptions of burdening others and of social alienation combine to instill the desire for death and (b) that individuals will not act on the desire for death unless they have developed the capability to do so. This capability develops through exposure and thus habituation to painful and/or fearsome experiences and is posited by the theory to be necessary for overcoming powerful self-preservation pressures. Two studies tested these predictions. In Study 1, the interaction of (low) family social support (cf. social alienation or low belonging) and feeling that one does not matter (cf. perceived burdensomeness) predicted current suicidal ideation, beyond depression indices. In Study 2, the 3-way interaction among a measure of low belonging, a measure of perceived burdensomeness, and lifetime number of suicide attempts (viewed as a strong predictor of the level of acquired capability for suicide) predicted current suicide attempt (vs. ideation) among a clinical sample of suicidal young adults, again beyond depression indices and other key covariates. Implications for the understanding, treatment, and prevention of suicidal behavior are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hopelessness as a measure of suicidal intent in the depressed elderly.

Suicidal ideation in the elderly has been related to depression, changes in health, and anticipation of a limited future. The present study examined the Hopelessness Scale (HS) and its relation to these factors in a depressed geriatric population. A total of 120 elderly outpatients, who had applied to receive psychotherapy for depression, completed the HS, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), health ratings, and the Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia (SADS) at intake. The HS was found to be internally consistent, and a principal components analysis revealed three distinct factors that were related to hope, feelings of giving up, and future planning. The HS, BDI, and health ratings were predictive of suicidal ideation as measured by specific items in the SADS. The relation among suicidal ideation hopelessness, depression, and health perceptions for the depressed aged are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predictors of suicide attempts: State and trait components.

The authors examined the state and trait components of 3 predictors of suicide attempts (depression, hopelessness, and anxiety), and their relationship to suicidal behavior. Self-report questionnaire and interview data from 180 adolescents enrolled in a prospective naturalistic study were analyzed. Between 23% and 30% of the variance in the predictors was attributable to subjects' trait levels of these variables; the trait, as well as the state, components of the predictor variables were interrelated; and trait levels of these variables were consistently related to suicide attempts. To reduce long-term risk of suicide attempts, clinicians should focus not only on reducing short-term distress but also on reducing individuals' more enduring patterns (trait levels) of negative affectivity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hopelessness, impulsiveness and intent among suicide attempters with major depression, alcohol dependence, or both

The present study examined differences in hopelessness, impulsiveness and suicide intent between suicide attempters with either major depression or alcohol dependence, comorbid major depression and alcohol dependence, and those without these disorders. A sample of 114 patients from consecutive cases of attempted suicide referred to a general hospital in Helsinki was interviewed and diagnosed according to DSM-III-R. Suicide intent was measured by the Beck Suicide Intent Scale (SIS) and hopelessness was assessed by the Beck Hopelessness Scale (HS). Impulsiveness of the suicide attempt was measured by two items of the SIS. Suicide attempters with major depression without comorbid alcohol dependence had higher suicide intent and lower impulsiveness than attempters with non-depressive alcohol dependence. Suicide attempts may differ between subjects with major depression, alcoholism or both disorders in terms of impulsiveness and suicide intent.