An Examination of United States Air Force Suicide Decedents Based on Documented Suicide Attempt Histories.
In this study, we compared United States military decedents who died by suicide on their first attempt with decedents who had made multiple attempts. Death investigation files for 217 United States Air Force (USAF) personnel who died by suicide between 1996 and 2006 were coded for demographic, psychosocial, and psychiatric characteristics. Among USAF suicide decedents, 77% died by suicide on their first attempt and 23% had a documented history of at least one prior attempt. Decedents with a history of prior attempts were more likely to have an interpersonal stressor within 3 months of death and were twice as likely to have a documented Axis I diagnosis. There were few differences between military suicide decedents based on history of prior attempts. Further research is needed to inform military suicide prevention endeavors.
Kristen
K
Kochanski-Ruscio
Elicia
E
Nademin
Kanchana
K
Perera
Jessica M
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4040-4275
JM
LaCroix
Margaret
M
Baer
Helena O
HO
Hassen
Maj David
MD
Englert
Marjan
M
Ghahramanlou-Holloway
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
air force; military; suicide; suicide death; suicide risk factor