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Posttraumatic stress disorder as a risk factor for suicidal ideation in Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans
Author(s) -
Jakupcak Matthew,
Cook Jessica,
Imel Zac,
Fontana Alan,
Rosenheck Robert,
McFall Miles
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.20423
Subject(s) - veterans affairs , suicidal ideation , psychiatry , risk factor , posttraumatic stress , suicide prevention , mental health , poison control , clinical psychology , anxiety disorder , psychology , injury prevention , medicine , anxiety , medical emergency
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was examined as a risk factor for suicidal ideation in Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans ( N = 407) referred to Veterans Affairs mental health care. The authors also examined if risk for suicidal ideation was increased by the presence of comorbid mental disorders in veterans with PTSD. Veterans who screened positive for PTSD were more than 4 times as likely to endorse suicidal ideation relative to non‐PTSD veterans. Among veterans who screened positive for PTSD ( n = 202), the risk for suicidal ideation was 5.7 times greater in veterans who screened positive for two or more comorbid disorders relative to veterans with PTSD only. Findings are relevant to identifying risk for suicide behaviors in Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans.