Expecting a Future Suicide Attempt Predicts Suicidal Behavior Among High-Risk Veterans

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Suicidology

Background:

• Future expectations are key in suicide theories.
• The clinical significance of expecting a future suicide attempt remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• Examine correlates of expecting a future suicide attempt.
• Investigate the prospective significance of this expectation in high-risk veterans.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 126 high-risk veterans was followed for 365 days.
• Cross-sectional analyses used Chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.
• Cox proportional hazards regression predicted suicidal behavior.

Main Results:

• Veterans expecting suicide attempts reported more preparation, recent behavior, and perceived access to means.
• No differences were found in hopelessness, future expectations, or coping.
• Expecting a suicide attempt was linked to elevated risk of suicidal behavior.

Conclusions:

• Risk factors distinguished veterans who did and did not expect suicide attempts.
• Expectation of suicide attempt predicted behavior independently of other factors.
• Understanding anticipation of suicidal behavior can aid suicide prevention.