title: Understanding PTSD comorbidity and suicidal behavior: associations among histories of alcohol dependence, major depressive disorder, and suicidal ideation and attempts.
abstract: Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at an elevated risk for experiencing suicidal thoughts and actions. However, a relative dearth of research has examined factors that may impact this relation, such as common co-occurring disorders. Utilizing the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication data, the current study examined comparisons between comorbid PTSD and major depressive disorder (MDD) and comorbid PTSD and alcohol dependence (AD) in relation to suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. It was hypothesized that comorbid MDD would be associated with an elevated likelihood of suicidal ideation, while comorbid AD would be associated with an elevated likelihood of suicide attempt history. Results indicated that only PTSD-AD was significantly associated with an elevated likelihood of endorsing histories of both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. These findings suggest that AD may be a critical risk factor for acquiring the capability for suicide attempts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, 216 Memorial Hall, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. Electronic address: sasharojas5@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sasha M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, 216 Memorial Hall, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bujarski
authors.affiliation: Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Babson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, 216 Memorial Hall, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
authors.forename: Courtney E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Dutton
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, 216 Memorial Hall, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA; Laureate Institute for Brain Research, 6655 South Yale Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74136, USA. Electronic address: mfeldne@uark.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Feldner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol dependence; Comorbidity; PTSD; Suicidal ideation; Suicide attempt