title: The effect of social adjustment and attachment style on suicidal behaviour.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prior studies examining the relationship between social adjustment and suicidal ideation or behaviour have not examined attachment. This study examines the effect of attachment on the association between current social adjustment and suicide attempt risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Attachment, social adjustment, and history of suicide attempt were assessed in patients participating in research on major depressive disorder (N = 524). Suicide attempters and non-attempters were compared with attachment style and social adjustment using hierarchical logistic regression models. The two factor scoring method of the Adult Attachment Scale (secure vs. avoidant) was utilized as each measures unique aspects of attachment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anxious attachment (OR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.016-1.728; P = 0.038) but not overall social adjustment (P = 0.14) was associated with a history of a past suicide attempt when both attachment and social adjustment were assessed in the same model. Among subtypes of social adjustment, work adjustment was associated with past history of suicide attempt (OR = 1.25; 95%CI = 1.019-1.540; P = 0.033). As impairment in work adjustment increased by 1 unit, the likelihood of reporting a suicide attempt increased by approximately 25%. There was no interaction between anxious attachment and work adjustment (P = 0.81).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anxious attachment and work adjustment warrant further study as potential treatment targets in depressed suicidal patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. dl2298@columbia.edu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lizardi
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Grunebaum
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harkavy-Friedman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oquendo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires