Pilot study of suicide risk factors among personnel in the United States Marine Corps (Pacific Forces).
Risk factors for suicide among active-duty members of the United States Marine Corps were investigated. Three groups were suicide attempters (n = 172), completers (n = 22), and a nonpsychiatric comparison group (n = 384). A series of multiple regression and discriminant analyses were conducted to assess whether any of 137 selected risk-factors differentiated the suicidal group from the comparison group. The following factors differentiated suicide attempters and completers from the comparison group and were associated with increased suicide risk: History of Abuse, Neglect, or Rejection, Lower Performance Evaluation, Symptoms of Depression, No History of Gambling Behavior, Younger Age, History of Alcohol Abuse, and Hopelessness. A discriminant analysis using these seven variables resulted in a 77% accuracy rate. When evaluating variables that could be obtained by a review of military records alone, three variables differentiated the attempters and completers from the comparison group, Lower Performance Evaluation, Younger Age, and a History of Military or Legal Problems. These variables correctly classified 73% of the sample. Implications for suicide-risk assessment for individuals in the Marine Corps are provided.
Leadership, Ethics & Law Department, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland 21402, USA. ekholmes@nadn.navy.mil
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Mateczun
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Wilcove
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention