Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Severity and Emotion Regulation in Acute-Care Psychiatric Inpatients: Associations With Suicidality

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology has been positively associated with suicidality (suicidal ideation and attempts), but less is known about factors that might exacerbate that association. The present study examined the main and interactive effects of PTSD symptom severity and difficulties in emotion regulation in association with four suicidality outcomes. Participants included 128 adults in an acute-care psychiatric inpatient setting. Results revealed that PTSD symptom severity was significantly incrementally associated with self-reported suicidal ideation (ß = .30, p = .02). Difficulties in emotion regulation were significantly associated with suicide as the reason for current admission (p = .01). The interactive effect of PTSD symptom severity and difficulties in emotion regulation was significant only for self-reported suicidal ideation (ß = .24, p < .001). Participants with high levels of PTSD symptom severity and difficulties in emotion regulation exhibited the highest level of suicidal ideation. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.