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Premilitary Trauma as a Correlate of Suicidal Ideation Among Veterans

Published Online:3 Jul 2017https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201700186

Suicide research among veterans has focused on military-related factors, but preservice factors may be equally important (1). We examined whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which are strongly associated with suicidal ideation (2), were associated with recent suicidal ideation among veterans.

On the 2012 Tennessee Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, veterans (N=558) indicated whether they had considered taking their own life in the past 12 months and how many of up to nine ACEs they had experienced. We used multiple logistic regression to examine the independent association of ACEs with recent suicidal ideation, adjusting for sociodemographic variables; lifetime diagnoses of depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder; receipt of psychological or psychiatric counseling or treatment in the past 12 months; lifetime traumatic brain injury (TBI) diagnosis; and combat service.

Prevalence of ACEs ranged from 10% for sexual abuse to 33% for household alcohol abuse; 20% experienced four or more ACEs. Approximately 8% of veterans indicated recent suicidal ideation. ACEs were significantly associated with recent suicidal ideation both before (odds ratio [OR]=1.41) and after adjustment for covariates (AOR=1.57) (Table 1). Serving in a combat zone and TBI were not significantly associated with recent suicidal ideation.

TABLE 1. Association of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with past-12-month suicidal ideation among U.S. veteransa

Crude analysis (N=556)Adjusted analysis (N=540)b
VariableOR95% CIAOR95% CI
Adverse childhood experience1.411.04–1.911.57*1.09–2.27
Ever served in a combat zone——.34.10–1.21
Ever received diagnosis of traumatic brain injury——.17.03–1.00
Ever received diagnosis of depression, anxiety, or PTSD——9.26*2.33–36.76

aSource: 2012 Tennessee Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

bAnalyses were weighted and adjusted for age, sex, race-ethnicity, education, employment status, marital status, and mental health treatment in the past 12 months. Sixteen respondents were omitted from analyses due to missing data on covariates.

*p<.05

TABLE 1. Association of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with past-12-month suicidal ideation among U.S. veteransa

Enlarge table

The association of ACEs with suicidal ideation, which supports a Canadian report (3), is remarkable for its significance after adjustment of relevant covariates and because it is chronologically more distal than military-related factors.

Suicide prevention efforts among current and former military personnel should include awareness of preservice trauma. Cumulative trauma histories may inform treatment decisions for select diagnoses or strategies for addressing suicide risk during periods of increased stress.

Dr. Blosnich is with the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Veterans Affairs (VA) Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh. Dr. Bossarte is with the Injury Control Research Center and Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, West Virginia University, Morgantown.
Send correspondence to Dr. Blosnich (e-mail: ). Amy M. Kilbourne, Ph.D., M.P.H., and Tami L. Mark, Ph.D., are editors of this column.

This work was supported by VA Health Services Research and Development Career Development Award CDA-14-408.

The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the funders, institutions, the VA, or the U.S. government.

The authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

References

1 Schoenbaum M, Kessler RC, Gilman SE, et al.: Predictors of suicide and accident death in the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS): results from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS). JAMA Psychiatry 71:493–503, 2014Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar

2 Blosnich JR, Dichter ME, Cerulli C, et al.: Disparities in adverse childhood experiences among individuals with a history of military service. JAMA Psychiatry 71:1041–1048, 2014Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar

3 Afifi TO, Taillieu T, Zamorski MA, et al.: Association of child abuse exposure with suicidal ideation, suicide plans, and suicide attempts in military personnel and the general population in Canada. JAMA Psychiatry 73:229–238, 2016Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar