The intervening role of perceived burdensomeness in relations between domains of cognitive functioning and indicators of suicide risk
Year: 2014
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Suicide risk is one of the most common reasons for admission to psychiatric hospitals, and psychiatric inpatients are at elevated risk for suicide. There have been mixed findings regarding the role of aspects of cognitive functioning in suicide risk among psychiatric inpatients, specifically with regard to the role of executive functioning and problem-solving abilities. These conflicting findings indicate that an intervening variable may be necessary to explain relations between facets of cognitive functioning and suicide risk. The interpersonal theory of suicide provides variables that are proposed to be proximal risk factors through which other, more distal risk factors, affect suicide risk. Therefore, it was hypothesized that one of these variables, perceived burdensomeness, may act as an intervening variable in relations between domains of cognitive functioning and suicide risk. \n \nThis hypothesis was tested in a sample of psychiatric inpatients (n = 110) using a nonparametric bootstrapping procedure. Results suggested that perceived burdensomeness acted as an intervening variable in relations between executive functioning and number of recent suicide attempts, as well as between objective problem-solving skills and number of recent suicide attempts, but not between self-reported problem-solving abilities and number of recent suicide attempts. Additionally, perceived burdensomeness did not act as an intervening variable in relations between any domain of cognitive functioning and current suicide ideation. \n \nThe findings indicate that assessing for cognitive functioning, as well as established risk factors such as perceived burdensomeness, is important to properly inform suicide risk assessment. In addition, focusing on perceived burdensomeness in psychotherapy may help reduce risk for suicide attempts in individuals with poor executive functioning or problem-solving skills.
Author: Jahn, Danielle R.
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7038670236