Citation

Adler A, Jager-Hyman S, Green KL, Brown GK, Beck AT, Wenzel A. Cognit. Ther. Res. 2015; 39(4): 492-498.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10608-015-9683-7

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Attentional fixation is a cognitive process characterized by a narrowing of attention on and preoccupation with suicide as the only solution to one's problems. The present study sought to investigate the experience of attentional fixation on suicide by establishing the psychometric properties of the Attentional Fixation on Suicide Experiences Questionnaire (AFSEQ) in a sample of 64 patients who recently attempted suicide. The AFSEQ evidenced strong psychometric properties, including good internal consistency and construct validity through moderate correlations with measures of suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, and suicide-relevant cognitive distortions. In addition, an exploratory factor analysis of the AFSEQ identified two factors: Cognitive Dysfunction and Cognitive Stuckness.

RESULTS suggest the AFSEQ is a reliable method for assessing the experience of attentional fixation in relation to suicide. We propose future research to further examine attentional fixation as a proximal risk factor for suicidal behavior. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; suicide; female; male; aged; Suicide attempts; suicidal ideation; suicide attempt; major clinical study; attention; cognitive defect; self report; psychometry; Article; construct validity; internal consistency; assessment of humans; attentional fixation; Attentional fixation; Attentional Fixation on Suicide Experiences Questionnaire; Cognitive model; Proximal risk