Citation

Villatte JL, O'Connor SS, Leitner R, Kerbrat AH, Johnson LL, Gutierrez PM. Mil. Behav. Health 2015; 3(4): 316-327.

Affiliation

Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Denver VA Medical Center, and University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/21635781.2015.1093981

PMID

26740909

Abstract

Past suicidal behaviors are among the strongest and most consistent predictors of eventual suicide and may be particularly salient in military suicide. The current study compared characteristics of suicide attempts in veterans (N = 746) and active-duty service members (N = 1,013) receiving treatment for acute suicide risk. Baseline data from six randomized controlled trials were pooled and analyzed using robust regression. Service members had greater odds of having attempted suicide relative to veterans, though there were no differences in number of attempts made. Service members also had higher rates of premilitary suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Veterans disproportionately attempted suicide by means of overdose. In veterans, combat deployment was associated with lower odds of lifetime suicide attempt, while history of NSSI was associated with greater attempt odds. Neither was significantly associated with lifetime suicide attempt in service members. Implications for suicide assessment and treatment are discussed.

Language: en