Suicide attempt, impulsivity, and exposure to trauma in college students

• Published in: Revista brasileira de psiquiatria 2022
• Main Authors: Lira, Sidnei B., Vieira, Flávia, Cavalcanti, Diogo E., Souza-Marques, Breno, Netto, Liana R., Correia-Melo, Fernanda S., Leal, Gustavo C., Pereira, Juliana L., Santos, Lene L., Guedes, Gisela M., Teles, Carlos A., Cardoso, Taiane de A., Miranda-Scippa, Ângela, Kapczinski, Flavio, Lacerda, Acioly L.T., Koenen, Karestan C., Turecki, Gustavo, Quarantini, Lucas C.
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Subjects: PSYCHIATRY
• ISSN: 1809-452X
• DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2021-2175

Objectives: Past suicide attempt (SA) is one of the most important risk factors for suicide death. An ideation-to-action framework posits that impulsivity, potentially traumatic events, and mental disorders also play a role in increasing suicide risk. This study aimed to assess the association between trait impulsivity, lifetime exposure to trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with SA in a sample of Brazilian college students. Methods: A total of 2,137 participants filled self-reported questionnaires consisting of a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, Trauma History Questionnaire, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – Civilian version, and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Results: Our findings suggest that trait impulsivity may be interpreted as exerting a distal effect on SA, even in the presence of other variables – such as trauma history, psychological neglect, and PTSD – which also increase the odds of SA. High and medium levels of impulsivity, history of trauma, and PTSD increased the likelihood of SA. Conclusions: Intervention strategies to prevent SA may target trait impulsivity and exposure to traumatic experiences.