Exploring suicidal ideation and self-harm after moderate-severe traumatic brain injury within a transdiagnostic...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Suicidal ideation (SI) and self-harm (SH) require further investigation in moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors.
• Prior research shows inconsistent links between demographic/injury factors and SI/SH, often using diagnosis-specific psychiatric analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the correlations between SI, SH, and various demographic, injury, and transdiagnostic internalizing symptom dimensions in moderate-severe TBI.
• To identify key correlates that predict SI and SH in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey of 387 individuals with moderate-severe TBI.
• Correlational analyses and elastic net regression to identify significant predictors of SI and SH.
• Assessment of transdiagnostic internalizing symptom dimensions.

Main Results:

• 21% of participants reported SI and 5% reported SH in the prior two weeks, mostly mild.
• Demographic and injury factors showed minimal association with SI/SH.
• SI and SH were significantly correlated with internalizing symptoms, disability, and lower life satisfaction.
• Core negative affect, post-traumatic intrusion, obsessive-compulsive, and low positive affect symptoms were key correlates, collectively explaining 50% of SI variance and 31% of SH variance.

Conclusions:

• A transdiagnostic internalizing symptom profile is associated with SI and SH in moderate-severe TBI.
• This profile may inform assessment and treatment strategies for SI and SH in TBI survivors.
• Future research should differentiate SH with and without suicidal intent and include control groups.