The Differentiating Role of State and Trait Hopelessness in Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempt

Burr, Erin M.; Rahm-Knigge, Ryan L.; Conner, Bradley T.

doi:10.1080/13811118.2017.1366960

Cited by 21 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Trait hopelessness has been specifically linked to personality traits, including low Extraversion (355) and high Neuroticism (354,356). Notably, trait hopelessness has shown a stronger risk with suicidal behavior than state hopelessness (357). Our study generates the new hypothesis that chronic T. gondii infection may elevate risk of suicide via increasing propensity to trait hopelessness, a hypothesis that warrants further research.…”

Section: Relevancementioning

confidence: 67%

Toxoplasma gondii, Suicidal Behavior, and Intermediate Phenotypes for Suicidal Behavior

Postolache

Wadhawan

Rujescu³

et al. 2021

Front. Psychiatry

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Within the general literature on infections and suicidal behavior, studies on Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) occupy a central position. This is related to the parasite's neurotropism, high prevalence of chronic infection, as well as specific and non-specific behavioral alterations in rodents that lead to increased risk taking, which are recapitulated in humans by T. gondii's associations with suicidal behavior, as well as trait impulsivity and aggression, mental illness and traffic accidents. This paper is a detailed review of the associations between T. gondii serology and suicidal behavior, a field of study that started 15 years ago with our publication of associations between T. gondii IgG serology and suicidal behavior in persons with mood disorders. This “legacy” article presents, chronologically, our primary studies in individuals with mood disorders and schizophrenia in Germany, recent attempters in Sweden, and in a large cohort of mothers in Denmark. Then, it reviews findings from all three meta-analyses published to date, confirming our reported associations and overall consistent in effect size [ranging between 39 and 57% elevation of odds of suicide attempt in T. gondii immunoglobulin (IgG) positives]. Finally, the article introduces certain links between T. gondii and biomarkers previously associated with suicidal behavior (kynurenines, phenylalanine/tyrosine), intermediate phenotypes of suicidal behavior (impulsivity, aggression) and state-dependent suicide risk factors (hopelessness/dysphoria, sleep impairment). In sum, an abundance of evidence supports a positive link between suicide attempts (but not suicidal ideation) and T. gondii IgG (but not IgM) seropositivity and serointensity. Trait impulsivity and aggression, endophenotypes of suicidal behavior have also been positively associated with T. gondii seropositivity in both the psychiatrically healthy as well as in patients with Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Yet, causality has not been demonstrated. Thus, randomized interventional studies are necessary to advance causal inferences and, if causality is confirmed, to provide hope that an etiological treatment for a distinct subgroup of individuals at an increased risk for suicide could emerge.

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Section: Relevancementioning

confidence: 67%

Toxoplasma gondii, Suicidal Behavior, and Intermediate Phenotypes for Suicidal Behavior

Postolache

Wadhawan

Rujescu³

et al. 2021

Front. Psychiatry

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“…The ecological momentary assessment showed that, even though hopelessness fluctuates over time, it has a significant association with both passive and active suicidal ideation [ 26 ]. Trait hopelessness was shown to have a stronger association with suicidal ideation than hopelessness influenced by depression symptoms [ 27 ]. This observation parallels the findings of our study in which hopelessness at baseline, and not the severity of depression, was the strongest predictor of membership to the unfavorable suicidal ideation trajectory.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modifiable predictors of suicidal ideation during psychotherapy for late-life major depression. A machine learning approach

et al. 2021

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This study aimed to identify subgroups of depressed older adults with distinct trajectories of suicidal ideation during brief psychotherapy and to detect modifiable predictors of membership to the trajectories of suicidal ideation. Latent growth mixed models were used to identify trajectories of the presence of suicidal ideation in participants to a randomized controlled trial comparing Problem Solving Therapy with “Engage” therapy in older adults with major depression over 9 weeks. Predictors of membership to trajectories of suicidal ideation were identified by the convergence of four machine learning models, i.e., least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression, random forest, gradient boosting machine, and classification tree. The course of suicidal ideation was best captured by two trajectories, a favorable and an unfavorable trajectory comprising 173 and 76 participants respectively. Members of the favorable trajectory had no suicidal ideation by week 8. In contrast, members of the unfavorable trajectory had a 60% probability of suicidal ideation by treatment end. Convergent findings of the four machine learning models identified hopelessness, neuroticism, and low general self-efficacy as the strongest predictors of membership to the unfavorable trajectory of suicidal ideation during psychotherapy. Assessment of suicide risk should include hopelessness, neuroticism, and general self-efficacy as they are predictors of an unfavorable course of suicidal ideation in depressed older adults receiving psychotherapy. Psychotherapeutic interventions exist for hopelessness, emotional reactivity related to neuroticism, and low self-efficacy, and if used during therapy, may improve the course of suicidal ideation.

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“…Respondents' level of suicidality over the past 12 months was measured using the suicidal thoughts and acts subscale from the Psychiatric Symptom Frequency Scale (PSFS) [29], which was originally developed in the United Kingdom and has been used in both Australia and North America [30][31][32][33]. The subscale consists of 5 items concerning suicidal thoughts and acts that are each presented with dichotomous response options (yes and no).…”

Section: Stbmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors and Their Associations With Transitional Life Events in Men and Women: Findings From an International Web-Based Sample (Preprint)

Milton¹,

Davenport²,

Iorfino³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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BACKGROUND Although numerous studies have demonstrated sex differences in the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB), there is a clear lack of research examining the similarities and differences between men and women in terms of the relationship between STB, transitional life events, and the coping strategies employed after experiencing such events when they are perceived as stressful. OBJECTIVE This study aims to examine the differences between men’s and women’s experiences of STB, sociodemographic predictors of STB, and how coping responses after experiencing a stressful transitional life event predict STB. METHODS A web-based self-report survey was used to assess the health and well-being of a voluntary community-based sample of men and women aged 16 years and older, living in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, who were recruited using web-based social media promotion and snowballing. RESULTS In total, 10,765 eligible web-based respondents participated. Compared with men, a significantly greater proportion of women reported STB (P<.001) and endorsed experiencing a transitional life event as stressful (P<.001). However, there were no gender differences in reporting that the transitional life event or events was stressful for those who also reported STB. Significant sociodemographic adjusted risk factors of STB included younger age; identifying as a sexual minority; lower subjective social connectedness; lower subjective intimate bonds; experiencing a stressful transitional life event in the past 12 months; living alone (women only); not being in employment, education, or training (women only); suddenly or unexpectedly losing a job (men only); and experiencing a relationship breakdown (men only). Protective factors included starting a new job, retiring, having a language background other than English, and becoming a parent for the first time (men only). The results relating to coping after experiencing a self-reported stressful transitional life event in the past 12 months found that regardless of sex, respondents who reported STB compared with those who did not were less likely to engage in activities that promote social connections, such as talking about their feelings (P<.001). Coping strategies significantly explained 19.0% of the STB variance for men (F16,1027=14.64; P<.001) and 22.0% for women (F16,1977=36.45; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS This research highlights multiple risk factors for STB, one of which includes experiencing at least one stressful transitional life event in the past 12 months. When individuals are experiencing such events, support from services and the community alike should consider using sex-specific or targeted strategies, as this research indicates that compared with women, more men do nothing when experiencing stress after a transitional life event and may be waiting until they experience STB to engage with their social networks for support.

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The Differentiating Role of State and Trait Hopelessness in Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempt

Cited by 21 publications

References 15 publications

Toxoplasma gondii, Suicidal Behavior, and Intermediate Phenotypes for Suicidal Behavior

Toxoplasma gondii, Suicidal Behavior, and Intermediate Phenotypes for Suicidal Behavior

Modifiable predictors of suicidal ideation during psychotherapy for late-life major depression. A machine learning approach

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors and Their Associations With Transitional Life Events in Men and Women: Findings From an International Web-Based Sample (Preprint)

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