Nonsuicidal self-injury and suicide attempts in Iraq/Afghanistan war veterans

Psychiatry Res. 2016 Sep 30:243:232-7. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.06.039. Epub 2016 Jun 28.

Abstract

The present study examined the association between history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and history of suicide attempts (SA) among 292 Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, half of whom carried a lifetime diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Consistent with hypotheses, veterans who reported a history of NSSI were significantly more likely to report a history of SA than veterans without a history of NSSI. In addition, logistic regression demonstrated that NSSI remained a significant predictor of SA even after a wide range of covariates (i.e., combat exposure, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, depression, alcohol dependence) were considered. Taken together, these findings suggest that clinicians working with veterans should include NSSI history as part of their standard risk assessment battery.

Keywords: Depression; Nonsuicidal self-injury; PTSD; Suicidal ideation; Suicide; Suicide attempts; Veterans.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Afghan Campaign 2001-
  • Afghanistan
  • Comorbidity
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iraq
  • Iraq War, 2003-2011
  • Male
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / epidemiology*
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / psychology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Suicidal Ideation*
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data*
  • Veterans / psychology*
  • Warfare