title: Cumulative trauma, hyperarousal, and suicidality in the general population: a path analysis.
abstract: Although trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) both have been linked to suicidal thoughts and behavior, the underlying basis for this relationship is not clear. In a sample of 357 trauma-exposed individuals from the general population, younger participant age, cumulative trauma exposure, and all three Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, PTSD clusters (reexperiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal) were correlated with clinical levels of suicidality. However, logistic regression analysis indicated that when all PTSD clusters were considered simultaneously, only hyperarousal continued to be predictive. A path analysis confirmed that posttraumatic hyperarousal (but not other components of PTSD) fully mediated the relationship between extent of trauma exposure and degree of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , California , USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Briere
authors.forename: Natacha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Godbout
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dias
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001143:Arousal; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: cumulative trauma; posttraumatic stress; suicidality