Citation

Vanderploeg RD, Nazem S, Brenner LA, Belanger HG, Donnell AJ, Scott SG. Arch. Suicide Res. 2014; 19(4): 453-471.

Affiliation

a Departments of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences and Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D)/Rehabilitation Research and Development (RR&D) Center of Excellence: Maximizing Rehabilitation Outcomes , James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital , Tampa , Florida.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811118.2014.957454

PMID

25517207

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study examined relationships among risk/protective factors and suicidal ideation (SI) in deployed and non-deployed National Guard members, particularly examining for possible differential effects of deployment on SI.

METHODS: 3,098 Florida National Guard members completed an anonymous online survey that assessed variables associated with SI including demographics, current psychiatric diagnoses, and pre, during, and post-deployment experiences.

RESULTS: Those deployed had significantly higher rates of SI (5.5%) than those not deployed (3.0%; p < .001). In multivariate analyses, among those not deployed, SI was significantly associated with major depressive disorder (p <.001), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (p <.001), prior psychological trauma (p <.01), and heavy/hazardous alcohol consumption (p <.05). In contrast, in the deployed, only PTSD (p <.001) and deployment-related mild traumatic brain injury (p <.05) were independently associated with SI.

CONCLUSIONS: Risk and protective factors differed by deployment status in National Guard members suggesting the possible need for cohort-specific treatment targets to minimize SI.

Language: en