title: Differential effects of executive functioning on suicide attempts.
abstract: Suicide is common among individuals with psychiatric illness; executive functioning may be associated with suicide risk. The authors examined demographic, clinical, and executive-functioning variables in suicide ideators and suicide attempters, hypothesizing that attempters would demonstrate poorer executive-functioning skills. Seventy-seven participants with psychiatric illness completed a neuropsychological battery while hospitalized or residing in crisis-houses after expressing suicidal ideation (N=40) or making a suicide attempt (N=37). Logistic regression predicted suicide Ideator versus suicide Attempter status; suicide Attempters exhibited poorer inhibition but better problem-solving ability than suicide Ideators. Suicide attempt risk may be associated with better problem-solving skills, but worse inhibitory control.
authors.affiliation: San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.forename: Elizabeth W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Twamley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*