Anger mediates the relationship between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and suicidal ideation in veterans

Dillon, K. H., Van Voorhees, E. E., Dennis, P. A., Glenn, J. J., Wilks, C. R., Morland, L. A., Beckham, J. C., & Elbogen, E. B. (2020). Anger mediates the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation in veterans. Journal of Affective Disorders, 269, 117-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.053

Experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms increases one’s risk for suicide, but the nature of the association between PTSD symptoms and suicidal ideation for Veterans is less understood. The fluid vulnerability theory of suicide suggests that acute risk factors, such as the sudden triggering of anger, may increase suicidal ideation. In particular, aggressive impulses (i.e., urges to engage in physically destructive behavior) and difficulty managing anger (i.e., struggle to calm down or control one’s behavior when upset) are components of anger that may explain the association between PTSD symptoms and suicidal ideation. The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide also supports the proposed influence of anger in suicidal ideation, as anger may trigger feelings of being a burden or a lack of social connection that may lead to increased suicidal ideation. Longitudinal data from post-9/11-era Veterans (N = 298) collected at three waves (baseline, six-month follow-up, 12-month follow-up) were used to analyze how anger may explain the connection between PTSD symptoms and suicidal ideation. The results indicated that anger partially explained the association between PTSD symptoms and suicidal ideation, even after accounting for Veterans’ demographic characteristics and depressive symptoms.

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