title: Protective factors and suicidality in members of Arab kindred.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Relatively little is known about the role of protective factors in an Arab population in the presence of suicidal risk factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the role of protective factors in a subsample of in large Arab Kindred participants in the presence of suicidal risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed protective and risk factors in a sample of 64 participants (16 suicidal and 48 nonsuicidal) between 15 and 55 years of age, using a comprehensive structured psychiatric interview, the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), self-reported depression, anxiety, hopelessness, impulsivity, hostility, and suicidal behavior in first-degree and second-relatives. We also used the Religiosity Questionnaire and suicide attitude (SUIATT) and multidimensional perceived support scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suicidal as opposed to nonsuicidal participants were more likely to have a lifetime history of major depressive disorder (MDD) (68.8% vs. 22.9% χ2=11.17, p=.001), an anxiety disorder (87.5% vs. 22.9, χ2=21.02, p<.001), or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (25% vs. 0.0%, Fisher's, p=.003). Individuals who are otherwise at high risk for suicidality have a much lower risk when they experience higher perceived social support (3.31±1.36 vs. 4.96±1.40, t=4.10, df=62, p<.001), and they have the view that suicide is somehow unacceptable (1.83±.10 vs. 1.89±.07, t=2.76, df=60, p=.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together with other studies, these data suggest that the augmentation of protective factors could play a very important role in the prevention of incidental and recurrent suicidal behavior in Arab populations, where suicidal behavior in increasing rapidly.
authors.affiliation: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. hamdan.sami@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamdan
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Melhem
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Orbach
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Farbstein
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Haib
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Apter
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brent
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013405:Suicide / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention