PTSD from a suicide attempt: An empirical investigation among suicide attempt survivors

OBJECTIVES: Suicide attempts (SAs), by definition, represent a risk for serious injury or death; thus, one's SA may contribute to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, empirical data on this topic are lacking. This study aimed to characterize the phenomenology, rate, and associated features of PTSD following one's SA. METHOD: A total of 386 adult SA survivors recruited from web-based sources participated. RESULTS: Overall, 27.5% (95% confidence interval = 23.1-31.9%) of SA survivors screened positive for a probable SA-related PTSD diagnosis. Individuals with a probable SA-related PTSD diagnosis reported greater current suicidal intent than those without this probable diagnosis; this association was significant at low, but not high, levels of depression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of SA survivors may experience SA-related PTSD. SA-related PTSD may be a viable assessment and intervention target to improve the quality of life and to reduce future suicide risk among SA survivors.