The role of emotion dysregulation in the association between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among veterans

• Published in: Journal of clinical psychology 2021-09, Vol.77 (9), p.2096-2108
• Main Authors: Raudales, Alexa M., Weiss, Nicole H., Dixon‐Gordon, Katherine L., Contractor, Ateka A., Schatten, Heather T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: emotion dysregulation; Emotions; Female; Humans; Male; positive emotions; Post traumatic stress disorder; posttraumatic stress disorder; PTSD; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Suicidal Ideation; suicide; Surveys and Questionnaires; Veterans
• ISSN: 0021-9762; 1097-4679
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23084

Objective Although research has established a link between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs), little is known about factors that may accentuate this relation. This study evaluated the influences of negative and positive emotion dysregulation on the association between PTSD symptoms and STBs among veterans. Methods Four‐hundred and sixty‐five trauma‐exposed military veterans in the community (M age = 38.00, 71.4% male, 69.5% White) completed online questionnaires. Results Negative emotion dysregulation did not moderate the relation between PTSD symptoms and STBs. Results showed significant interactive effects of PTSD symptoms and positive emotion dysregulation on STBs, such that PTSD symptoms were more strongly related to STBs at high (vs. low) levels of positive emotion dysregulation. This effect was sustained across domains of positive emotion dysregulation. Conclusions Findings suggest a potential need to consider positive emotion dysregulation in the assessment and treatment of STBs among veterans with PTSD symptoms.