title: Simple Measures of Hopelessness and Impulsivity are Associated with Acute Suicidal Ideation and Attempts in Patients in Psychiatric Crisis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the authors' predictions 1) that hopelessness would positively correlate with suicidal ideation and that impulsivity (either transient urges to self-harm or impulsive acting out) would positively correlate with suicidal behavior, and 2) that the recent or long-standing nature of the traits will have corresponding effects on reported histories of suicidal ideation and behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire validation trial in which each subject received every measure in counterbalanced fashion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings associated with a medium-sized medical school in the southeastern United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five subjects presenting with varying levels of suicidal ideation and behavior completed measures providing information about their histories of suicidal ideation and behavior, recent feelings of hopelessness, feelings of general hopelessness, recent feelings of difficulty controlling urges to self-harm, and feeling about general levels of impulsivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The InterSePT Scale for Suicidal Thinking-Plus, the Sheehan-Suicidality Tracking Scale, the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, and six additional questions to assess hopelessness and impulsivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent and trait hopelessness correlated positively with suicidal ideation. Patients who reported any suicide attempt endorsed higher levels of general impulsivity than those who did not report a history of at least one suicide attempt. Those enrolled in the study secondary to a very recent suicide attempt reported more difficulties with recent suicidal impulses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simple measures of hopelessness and impulsivity are associated with suicidal ideation and attempts and may add to determination of suicide risk.
authors.affiliation: Dr. McCullumsmith is with the University of Cincinnati Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Cincinnati, Ohio; Dr. Williamson is with the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Birmingham, Alabama, and Janssen Medical Affairs, LLC, Titusville, New Jersey; Ms. May is with the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama; Ms Bruer is with the University of Alabama, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Birmingham, Alabama; Dr. Sheehan is Distinguished University Health Professor Emeritus, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida; and Dr. Alphs is with Janssen Medical Affairs, LLC, Titusville, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Cheryl B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Mccullumsmith
authors.affiliation: Dr. McCullumsmith is with the University of Cincinnati Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Cincinnati, Ohio; Dr. Williamson is with the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Birmingham, Alabama, and Janssen Medical Affairs, LLC, Titusville, New Jersey; Ms. May is with the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama; Ms Bruer is with the University of Alabama, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Birmingham, Alabama; Dr. Sheehan is Distinguished University Health Professor Emeritus, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida; and Dr. Alphs is with Janssen Medical Affairs, LLC, Titusville, New Jersey.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.affiliation: Dr. McCullumsmith is with the University of Cincinnati Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Cincinnati, Ohio; Dr. Williamson is with the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Birmingham, Alabama, and Janssen Medical Affairs, LLC, Titusville, New Jersey; Ms. May is with the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama; Ms Bruer is with the University of Alabama, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Birmingham, Alabama; Dr. Sheehan is Distinguished University Health Professor Emeritus, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida; and Dr. Alphs is with Janssen Medical Affairs, LLC, Titusville, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Roberta S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: May
authors.affiliation: Dr. McCullumsmith is with the University of Cincinnati Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Cincinnati, Ohio; Dr. Williamson is with the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Birmingham, Alabama, and Janssen Medical Affairs, LLC, Titusville, New Jersey; Ms. May is with the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama; Ms Bruer is with the University of Alabama, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Birmingham, Alabama; Dr. Sheehan is Distinguished University Health Professor Emeritus, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida; and Dr. Alphs is with Janssen Medical Affairs, LLC, Titusville, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Emily H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Bruer
authors.affiliation: Dr. McCullumsmith is with the University of Cincinnati Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Cincinnati, Ohio; Dr. Williamson is with the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Birmingham, Alabama, and Janssen Medical Affairs, LLC, Titusville, New Jersey; Ms. May is with the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama; Ms Bruer is with the University of Alabama, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Birmingham, Alabama; Dr. Sheehan is Distinguished University Health Professor Emeritus, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida; and Dr. Alphs is with Janssen Medical Affairs, LLC, Titusville, New Jersey.
authors.forename: David V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.affiliation: Dr. McCullumsmith is with the University of Cincinnati Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Cincinnati, Ohio; Dr. Williamson is with the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Birmingham, Alabama, and Janssen Medical Affairs, LLC, Titusville, New Jersey; Ms. May is with the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama; Ms Bruer is with the University of Alabama, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Birmingham, Alabama; Dr. Sheehan is Distinguished University Health Professor Emeritus, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida; and Dr. Alphs is with Janssen Medical Affairs, LLC, Titusville, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Larry D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Alphs
keywords: Suicidality; assessment