Elsevier

Journal of Affective Disorders

Volume 227, February 2018, Pages 97-102
Journal of Affective Disorders

Research paper
A longitudinal test of the predictions of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behaviour for passive and active suicidal ideation in a large community-based cohort

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.10.005Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Few studies have tested the interpersonal-psychological theory longitudinally.

  • Interpersonal factors predicted future suicide ideation.

  • Inconsistent evidence was found for interactions between interpersonal factors.

  • Effects of interpersonal factors varied by age group and gender.

  • Increasing interpersonal disconnection was associated with onset of ideation.

Abstract

Background

The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) aims to elucidate the key antecedents of suicide deaths. Limited research has tested the IPTS in a community setting, and very little longitudinal research has been conducted. The current study longitudinally tested the predictions of the IPTS for suicidal ideation in a large population-based sample.

Methods

The PATH through Life study assesses three age cohorts (20's, 40's, 60's) every four years. Two interpersonal factors were estimated at the third wave of assessment: thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB). The roles of these factors in suicide ideation (active and passive) four years later were estimated using logistic regression models (n = 4545).

Results

A one SD increase in TB was associated with increased odds of 37% for passive ideation and 24% for active ideation. For PB, odds were increased 2.5-fold for passive ideation and 2.4-fold for active ideation. A significant negative PB × TB interaction was found for passive but not active ideation. Effects were not consistent by age group or gender.

Limitations

Proxy measures were used to assess the constructs. The extended timeframe and low prevalence of suicidal ideation limited power to find effects within subgroups.

Conclusions

Although TB and PB were individually associated with suicidal thoughts, little evidence was found for the key predictions of the IPTS longitudinally. Further investigation of the dynamic interplay between interpersonal factors over time is needed.

Section snippets

Participants

Data were extracted from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life project, a large longitudinal cohort study that measures a range of physical health, mental health, cognitive and personality characteristics across the lifespan using three narrow-age cohorts (Anstey et al., 2011). Potential participants were selected at random from the electoral rolls of Canberra ACT and Queanbeyan NSW Australia, according to three age cohorts: ‘young’ aged 20–24 years, ‘midlife’ aged 40–44 years,

Sample characteristics

Table 1 presents sample characteristics, mental health symptomology and IPTS risk factors at wave 3 by reported suicide thoughts/behaviours at wave 4. Respondents reporting suicidal thoughts/behaviours had, on average, significantly greater TB and PB scores compared to participants who did not report suicidal thoughts/behaviours (p < 0.001 for all measures). The average Goldberg Depression and Goldberg Anxiety score for respondents reporting suicidal thoughts/behaviours exceeded the mean

Discussion

The present study was one of the largest to examine the predictions of the IPTS with regard to suicidal ideation, and the first to longitudinally test predictions of the IPTS in a community sample. The findings indicate mixed support for the theory. Significant effects of TB, PB, and their interaction were observed for passive suicidal ideation, which is consistent with the theory's predictions for passive ideation (Van Orden et al., 2010). However, the significant interaction suggested a

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Kaarin Anstey, Peter Butterworth, Simon Easteal, Patricia Jacomb, Karen Maxwell, and the PATH interviewers, for their contributions to the PATH study.

Funding

The study was supported by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants 973302, 179805, 350833, 157125 and Australian Research Council grant 130101705. PJB, ALC and HC are supported by NHMRC Fellowships 1083311, 1122544 and 1056964.

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