A Multidimensional Examination of Dissociation and Its Relationship With Suicide Ideation and Attempts

Dissociation is a multidimensional construct linked to suicide risk. However, it is unclear which dimensions of dissociation are most important to suicide risk, and whether they correlate with suicide ideation (SI), suicide attempts (SA), or both. Thus, the present study utilized multiple measures of dissociation to examine the differential relationships of distinct dissociation dimensions to SI and SA. Participants were 545 undergraduates, oversampled for suicide risk, including 141 with histories of SA and 255 with histories of SI but not attempts. Suicide history, dissociative symptoms, and potential covariates were measured via validated self-report questionnaires. In general, analyses indicated that dissociation was associated with both SI and SA among those with ideation. Regarding specific dimensions, depersonalization/derealization and zoning out best predicted SI, whereas reexperiencing best distinguished SA from those with SI only. The findings suggest that different types of dissociative experiences are associated with different aspects of suicide risk. Future research should continue to utilize updated, multidimensional models of dissociation to better understand the role of this construct in suicide risk.