title: Life trajectories and burden of adversity: mapping the developmental profiles of suicide mortality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about differential suicide profiles across the life trajectory. This study introduces the life-course method in suicide research with the aim of refining the longitudinal and cumulative assessment of psychosocial factors by quantifying accumulation of burden over time in order to delineate distinctive pathways of completed suicide.
  
  
  METHODS
  The psychological autopsy method was used to obtain third-party information on consecutive suicides. Life-history calendar analysis served to arrive at an adversity score per 5-year segment that was then cluster-analysed and correlated to define victim profiles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two distinct life trajectories emerged: (1) individuals who experienced childhood traumas, developmental adversity and little protection were more likely to present concurrent psychiatric and Axis II disorders; and (2) individuals who experienced less adversity but seemed more reactive to later major difficulties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The life calendar approach presented here in suicide research adds to the identification of life events, distal and recent, previously associated with suicide. It also quantifies the burden of adversity over the life course, defining two distinct profiles that could benefit from distinct targeted preventive intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychologyu, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Canada. monique.seguin@uqo.ca
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Séguin
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lesage
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turecki
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chawky
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Daigle
authors.forename: Andrée
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008606:Mental Processes; D008875:Middle Aged; D011599:Psychopathology; D012944:Social Support; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data