Citation

Lieberman A, Gai AR, Rogers ML, Jobes DA, David Rudd M, Chalker SA, Brenner JT, Joiner TE. Behav. Ther. 2023; 54(4): 696-707.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.beth.2022.12.002

PMID

37330258

Abstract

Perceived burdensomeness (PB), defined by an intractable perception of burdening others, often reflects a false mental calculation that one's death is worth more than one's life and has been supported as a significant risk factor for suicide. Because PB often reflects a distorted cognition, it may serve as a corrective and promising target for the intervention of suicide. More work on PB is needed in clinically severe and in military populations. Sixty-nine (Study 1) and 181 (Study 2) military participants at high baseline suicide risk engaged in interventions targeting constructs relating to PB. Baseline and follow-up measures (at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months) of suicidal ideation were administered, and various statistical approaches-including repeated-measures ANOVA, mediation analyses, and correlating standardized residuals-explored whether suicidal ideation decreased specifically by way of PB. In addition to utilizing a larger sample size, Study 2 included an active PB-intervention arm (N = 181) and a control arm (N = 121), who received robust care as usual. In both studies, participants improved considerably regarding baseline to follow-up suicidal ideation. The results of Study 2 mirrored those of Study 1, corroborating a potential mediational role for PB in treatment-related improvements in suicidal ideation in military participants. Effect sizes ranged from.07-.25. Interventions tailored at decreasing levels of perceived burdensomeness may be uniquely and significantly effective in reducing suicidal thoughts.

Language: en

Keywords

suicide; military; behavior change; Interpersonal Theory of Suicide; perceived burdensomeness