title: Relative Impact of Risk Factors, Thwarted Belongingness, and Perceived Burdensomeness on Suicidal Ideation in Veteran Service Members.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We tested the associations between individualized risk factors, empirically validated constructs specific to suicide risk (i.e., thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, and two methods for conceptualizing suicidal ideation based on Suicide Index Score (SIS) and overall severity score of the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation [BSS]).
  
  
  METHODS
  The current study included a sample of 134 suicidal Veterans who were recruited from an inpatient psychiatry unit of a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Participants completed the BSS, Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, Outcome Questionnaire-45.2, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, Drug Abuse Screening Test, and abbreviated versions of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military version (PCL-M) and Insomnia Severity Index. We used ordinary least squares regression with bootstrapping to conduct analyses due to the skewed distributions observed in the suicidal ideation outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thwarted belongingness was the only statistically significant correlate of the SIS, indicating a stronger desire to be dead than alive as Veterans perceived themselves as being increasingly disconnected and isolated from others (B = 0.36, standard error [SE] = 0.01, p = 0.005). In contrast, greater overall severity scores on the BSS were associated with higher ratings on the PCL-M (B = 0.21, SE = 0.07, p = 0.02) and for thwarted belongingness (B = 0.27, SE = 0.09, p = 0.04). Problematic alcohol use was significantly associated with lower overall severity scores (B = -.27, SE = 1.17, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings may inform clinical strategies for conceptualizing and targeting factors associated with suicidal risk.
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville.
authors.forename: Stephen S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Western Kentucky University.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.affiliation: The Catholic University of America.
authors.forename: Keith W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
authors.forename: Lora L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center.|University of Colorado School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.affiliation: The Catholic University of America.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jobes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: interpersonal psychological theory of suicide; risk factors; suicide; veterans