title: The effect of participating in suicide research: does participating in a research protocol on suicide and psychiatric symptoms increase suicide ideation and attempts?
abstract: The effect of engaging in an intensive research protocol that inquired extensively about psychiatric and suicide symptoms and exposed participants to a number of images, including suicide-related content was explored. Individuals experiencing a major depressive episode were called at 1 and 3 months after the initial protocol. Participants were asked about changes in suicide ideation and the occurrence of self-harm or suicide attempts following participation. Participants reported experiencing reductions in suicide ideation at the first follow-up and no changes at the second follow-up. No participant reported having engaged in self-harm or having attempted suicide at either follow-up. Results suggest that basic science/nontreatment research can be conducted safely with suicidal participants and in a manner that does not increase suicide symptoms or suicide risk.
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University, Dept. of Psychology, Lubbock, TX 79409-2051, USA. kelly.cukrowicz@ttu.edu
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cukrowicz
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poindexter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D035841:Behavioral Research; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult