Victimization of Lesbian,Gay, and Bisexual People in Childhood: Associations with Attempted Suicide

Higher rates of attempted suicide have been documented among people who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, and bisexual (LGB) compared with heterosexuals. This study sought to ascertain the association between childhood abuse and neglect and attempted suicide, comparing LGBs and heterosexuals. Childhood sexual abuse among men and childhood sexual and physical abuse among women were found to mediate the association between LGB identity and attempted suicide. The experience of childhood abuse likely plays a significant role in the relationship between LGB identity and attempted suicide, but other factors such as experience of discrimination are also important.     

Correlates of Suicidal Ideation in Physically Injured Trauma Survivors

Epidemiologic studies have documented that injury survivors are at increased risk for suicide. We evaluated 206 trauma survivors to examine demographic, clinical, and injury characteristics associated with suicidal ideation during hospitalization and across 1 year. Results indicate that mental health functioning, depression symptoms, and history of mental health services were associated with suicidal ideation in the hospital; being a parent was a protective factor. Pre‐injury posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, assaultive injury mechanism, injury‐related legal proceedings, and physical pain were significantly associated with suicidal ideation across 1 year. Readily identifiable risk factors early after traumatic injury may inform hospital‐based screening and intervention procedures.     

Evaluation of the 113Online Suicide Prevention Crisis Chat Service: Outcomes,Helper Behaviors and Comparison to Telephone Hotlines

Recognizing the importance of digital communication, major suicide prevention helplines have started offering crisis intervention by chat. To date there is little evidence supporting the effectiveness of crisis chat services. To evaluate the reach and outcomes of the 113Online volunteer‐operated crisis chat service, 526 crisis chat logs were studied, replicating the use of measures that were developed to study telephone crisis calls. Reaching a relatively young population of predominantly females with severe suicidality and (mental) health problems, chat outcomes for this group were found to be comparable to those found for crisis calls to U.S. Lifeline Centers in 2003–2004, with similar but not identical associations with specific helpers' styles and attitudes. Our findings support a positive effect of the 113Online chat service, to be enhanced by practice standards addressing an apparent lack of focus on the central issue of suicidality during chats, as well as by the development of best practices specific for online crisis intervention.     

Patient Suicide: A Survey of Therapists' Reactions

A substantial proportion of therapists will at some point in their professional life experience the loss of a patient to suicide. Our aims were to assess how therapists react to patient's suicide over time and which factors contribute to the reaction. One third of the therapists, mostly women, suffer from severe distress. The impact is not different for therapists in institutional settings and therapists in private practice. The item “overall distress” immediately after the suicide predicts emotional reactions and changes in behavior. Our data suggest that identifying the severely distressed subgroup could be done using a visual analogue scale for overall distress. As a consequence, more specific and intensified help could be provided to these individuals.     

Tryptophan Hydroxylase 1 Variant rs1800532 is Associated with Suicide Attempt in Serbian Psychiatric Patients but does not Moderate the Effect of Recent Stressful Life Events

Tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) gene, coding for serotonin synthesizing enzyme, and recent stressful life events (SLEs) have been commonly associated with suicidal behavior. TPH1 has been also hypothesized to be involved in stress–response mechanisms. The aim of this study was to assess TPH1 variant rs1800532 and its possible interaction with recent SLEs as risk factors for suicide attempt (SA) in Serbian psychiatric patients, including 165 suicide attempters and 188 suicide nonattempters. rs1800532 and recent SLEs were independently associated with SA, while rs1800532 did not moderate the effect of recent SLEs on SA vulnerability among Serbian psychiatric patients.     

Age‐Specific Characteristics of Serious Suicide Attempters in China

Characteristics of four age groups of patients with medically serious suicide attempts from nine general hospitals in China (N = 617) were compared. There were no significant age‐group differences by residence (rural vs. urban), method of attempt, proportion with prior attempts, or level of family functioning. Attempters <20 years of age were less likely to use alcohol at the time of the attempt. Attempters age 20–44 years had less regular contact with family members but were more likely to make the attempt in the presence of someone else. And attempters ≥ 45 years were more likely to have high suicidal intent, lower quality of life, mood disorders, and substance abuse disorders. These results highlight the need for age‐specific intervention programs for suicide attempters.     

Acquired Capability for Suicide,Pain Tolerance,and Fearlessness of Pain—Validation of the Pain Tolerance Scale of the German Capability for Suicide Questionnaire

The interpersonal theory of suicide (Joiner, 2005) postulates that for a serious suicide attempt, one has to possess the acquired capability to commit suicide. Acquired capability includes higher pain tolerance, which is further assumed to comprise both an elevated physical pain tolerance and fearlessness of pain. Recently, the German Capability for Suicide Questionnaire (GCSQ) was validated. The aim of this study is further validation of the GCSQ's Pain Tolerance scale by investigating the scale's association with objective pain tolerance and fearlessness of pain in two undergraduate samples (N = 81; N = 76). Both associations were found indicating a strong criterion validity of the Pain Tolerance scale.