Perceived responsiveness in suicidal ideation: An experience sampling study in psychiatric patients

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Perceived responsiveness, feeling understood and validated by others, is vital for well-being.
• Its protective role for individuals at risk of suicide requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess if perceived responsiveness protects psychiatric patients from suicidal ideation post-discharge.
• To examine this association in relation to risk factors like thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and hopelessness.

Main Methods:

• 57 psychiatric patients monitored suicidal ideation 5 times daily and perceived responsiveness daily for 4 weeks.
• Assessed established risk factors: thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and hopelessness.

Main Results:

• Increased perceived responsiveness correlated with decreased suicidal ideation.
• Responsiveness acted as a buffer against suicidal ideation only when risk factors were low.
• The protective effect of responsiveness was absent when risk factors were high.

Conclusions:

• Perceived responsiveness may protect at-risk individuals from suicidal ideation, but only under conditions of low negative perceptions.
• When negative perceptions (thwarted belongingness, burdensomeness, hopelessness) are high, perceived responsiveness appears less impactful.