Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Oquendo, M. Articles by Mann, J. J. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Oquendo, M. Articles by Mann, J. J. Depression Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Suicide

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Comorbid With Major Depression: Factors Mediating the Association With Suicidal Behavior

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine if patients with a history of major depressive episode and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have a higher risk for suicide attempt and differ in other measures of suicidal behavior, compared to patients with major depressive episode but no PTSD. In addition, to explore how PTSD comorbidity might increase risk for suicidal behavior in major depressive episode, the authors investigated the relationship between PTSD, cluster B personality disorder, childhood sexual or physical abuse, and aggression/impulsivity. METHOD: The subjects were 230 patients with a lifetime history of major depressive episode; 59 also had lifetime comorbid PTSD. The demographic and clinical characteristics of subjects with and without PTSD were compared. Multivariate analysis was used to examine the relationship between suicidal behavior and lifetime history of PTSD, with adjustment for clinical factors known to be associated with suicidal behavior. RESULTS: Patients with a lifetime history of PTSD were significantly more likely to have made a suicide attempt. The groups did not differ with respect to suicidal ideation or intent, number of attempts made, or maximum lethality of attempts. The PTSD group had higher objective depression, impulsivity, and hostility scores; had a higher rate of comorbid cluster B personality disorder; and were more likely to report a childhood history of abuse. However, cluster B personality disorder was the only independent variable related to lifetime suicide attempts in a multiple regression model. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD is frequently comorbid with major depressive episode, and their co-occurrence enhances the risk for suicidal behavior. A higher rate of comorbid cluster B personality disorder appears to be a salient factor contributing to greater risk for suicidal acts in patients with a history of major depressive episode who also have PTSD, compared to those with major depressive episode alone.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. G. Vitriol, S. T. Ballesteros, R. U. Florenzano, K. P. Weil, and D. F. Benadof Evaluation of an Outpatient Intervention for Women With Severe Depression and a History of Childhood Trauma Psychiatr Serv, July 1, 2009; 60(7): 936 - 942. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. S. Wortzel, I. A. Binswanger, C. A. Anderson, and L. E. Adler Suicide Among Incarcerated Veterans J Am Acad Psychiatry Law, March 1, 2009; 37(1): 82 - 91. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. C. Wilcox, C. L. Storr, and N. Breslau Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Suicide Attempts in a Community Sample of Urban American Young Adults Arch Gen Psychiatry, March 1, 2009; 66(3): 305 - 311. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Zivin, H. M. Kim, J. F. McCarthy, K. L. Austin, K. J. Hoggatt, H. Walters, and M. Valenstein Suicide Mortality Among Individuals Receiving Treatment for Depression in the Veterans Affairs Health System: Associations with Patient and Treatment Setting Characteristics Am J Public Health, December 1, 2007; 97(12): 2193 - 2198. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. M. Melhem, D. A. Brent, M. Ziegler, S. Iyengar, D. Kolko, M. Oquendo, B. Birmaher, A. Burke, J. Zelazny, B. Stanley, et al. Familial Pathways to Early-Onset Suicidal Behavior: Familial and Individual Antecedents of Suicidal Behavior Am J Psychiatry, September 1, 2007; 164(9): 1364 - 1370. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Olshen, K. H. McVeigh, R. A. Wunsch-Hitzig, and V. I. Rickert Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Suicide Attempts Among Urban Teenagers Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, June 1, 2007; 161(6): 539 - 545. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Nomura and C. M. Chemtob Conjoined Effects of Low Birth Weight and Childhood Abuse on Adaptation and Well-being in Adolescence and Adulthood Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, February 1, 2007; 161(2): 186 - 192. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Silverstein, M. Augustyn, H. Cabral, and B. Zuckerman Maternal Depression and Violence Exposure: Double Jeopardy for Child School Functioning Pediatrics, September 1, 2006; 118(3): e792 - e800. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. J. Kaslow, C. H. Jacobs, S. L. Young, and S. Cook Suicidal Behavior Among Low-Income African American Women: A Comparison of First-Time and Repeat Suicide Attempters Journal of Black Psychology, August 1, 2006; 32(3): 349 - 365. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Sareen, B. J. Cox, T. O. Afifi, R. de Graaf, G. J. G. Asmundson, M. ten Have, and M. B. Stein Anxiety Disorders and Risk for Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study of Adults Arch Gen Psychiatry, November 1, 2005; 62(11): 1249 - 1257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2005 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us