Citation

Bryan CJ, Ray-Sannerud B, Morrow CE, Etienne N. J. Affect. Disord. 2013; 148(1): 37-41.

Affiliation

National Center for Veterans Studies, 260 S. Central Campus Dr., Room 205, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States. Electronic address: craig.bryan@utah.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2012.11.044

PMID

23232420

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Suicide rates in the U.S. military have been rising rapidly in the past decade. Research suggests guilt is a significant predictor of suicidal ideation among military personnel, and may be especially pronounced among those who have been exposure to combat-related traumas. The current study explored the interactive effect of direct combat exposure and guilt on suicidal ideation in a clinical sample of military personnel. METHODS: Ninety-seven active duty U.S. Air Force personnel receiving outpatient mental health treatment at two military clinics completed self-report symptom measures of guilt, depression, hopelessness, perceived burdensomeness, posttraumatic stress disorder, and suicidal ideation. RESULTS: Generalized multiple regression analyses indicated a significant interaction of guilt and direct combat exposure (B=.124, SE=.053, p=.020), suggesting a stronger relationship of guilt with suicidal ideation among participants who had direct combat exposure as compared to those who had not. The interactions of direct combat exposure with depression (B=.004, SE=.040, p=.926), PTSD symptoms (B=.016, SE=.018, p=.382), perceived burdensomeness (B=.159, SE=.152, p=.300) and hopelessness (B=.069, SE=.036, p=.057) were nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Although guilt is associated with more severe suicidal ideation in general among military personnel, it is especially pronounced among those who have had direct combat exposure.

Language: en