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Updated: May 23, 2026
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Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
Killing in combat may be independently associated with suicidal ideation
Shira Maguen1, Thomas J Metzler, Jeane Bosch
1San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California 94121, USA. Shira.Maguen@va.gov
Depression and Anxiety
|April 17, 2012
Summary
War veterans with higher killing experiences had double the odds of suicidal ideation. Understanding combat-related risk factors like killing experiences is critical for veteran suicide prevention.
Area of Science:
- Military mental health
- Suicidology
- Veterans affairs
Background:
- US military suicides exceed combat deaths, necessitating research into combat-related risk factors.
- Understanding the link between combat experiences and suicide is critical for veteran well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between killing experiences and suicide among war veterans.
- To investigate the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and substance use disorders on this association.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a nationally representative sample of Vietnam veterans from the National Vietnam Readjustment Study (NVVRS).
- Employed a subsample, the NVVRS Clinical Interview Sample (CIS), for in-depth analysis.
- Conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective analysis accounting for demographic variables and combat exposure.
Main Results:
- Veterans reporting higher killing experiences showed doubled odds of suicidal ideation (OR = 1.99).
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and substance use disorders were independently associated with increased suicidal ideation.
- PTSD demonstrated the strongest association with suicide attempts (OR = 5.52).
Conclusions:
- Killing experiences are a significant, yet often overlooked, factor in suicide risk assessment for veterans.
- Findings underscore the importance of incorporating combat-related killing experiences into suicide risk evaluations for war veterans.
- Clinical implications suggest a need for comprehensive assessments that include direct questioning about combat-related killing experiences.
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