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Citation
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Martin JS, Novak LA, Perera K, Olsen CH, Kindt MT, LaCroix JM, Bennion L, Lee-Tauler SY, Ghahramanlou-Holloway M. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub. |
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Affiliation
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Department of Medical & Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA. |
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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE: This study describes characteristics of United States Air Force (USAF) suicide decedents and determines subgroups.
METHOD: Retrospective review of demographic, psychiatric, event-related, and psychosocial variables for USAF suicide decedents in the Suicide Event Surveillance System database was conducted between February 1999 and July 2009 (N = 376). Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to determine initial clusters and cluster centroids.
RESULTS: Analyses identified three clusters. Cluster 1 (n = 149) individuals were mostly single or divorced, E-1-E-6 rank, living alone, and less likely to have psychiatric disorder diagnoses or engage with most helping resources. Cluster 2 (n = 126) decedents were mostly married, living with a partner, higher ranking, and least likely to communicate suicide intent. Cluster 3 (n = 101) individuals were mostly E-4-E-6 rank, with the highest rates of most psychiatric diagnoses, previous suicide-related events, engagement with multiple helping resources, communication of intent, and psychosocial precipitants. Clusters differed significantly in marital status, rank, psychiatric diagnoses, precipitants, service utilization, previous suicide-related events, risk factors, communication of intent, location and method of death, and residential status.
CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies empirically based suicide typologies within a military decedent sample. While further research and replications of findings are needed, these typologies have clinical and policy implications for military suicide prevention.
© 2019 The American Association of Suicidology.
Language: en |