Journal
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
Volume 295, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113584
Keywords
Firearms; Means safety; Suicide
Categories
Funding
- Military Suicide Research Consortium (MSRC)
- Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs [W81XWH-162-0004]
- American Psychological Association
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The study found that individuals who intend to purchase firearms tend to have higher severity of suicidal ideation compared to those who already own or have access to firearms, indicating a potentially at-risk period. Replication of these findings in larger and more clinically severe samples is necessary.
Most suicide deaths in the United States are enacted with a firearm, and recent and first-time purchasers of firearms represent at-risk groups. This study aimed to examine differences in indicators of suicide risk among individuals who either (a) reported current firearm ownership/access or (b) denied current firearm ownership/ access but reported an intention to obtain a firearm (i.e., prospective firearm owners). Participants were 96 young adults with a lifetime history of suicidal ideation and firearm ownership, access, or interest. We assessed recent suicidal ideation severity with the Depressive Symptom Index-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS) and sought to internally replicate findings with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) item 9. Fifty-two (54.2%) participants reported firearm ownership/access and 44 (45.8%) identified as prospective firearm owners. Prospective firearm owners had significantly greater DSI-SS suicidal ideation severity scores compared with those who already own/have access to a firearm, corresponding to a medium effect size; results were consistent with the PHQ-9 suicidal ideation item. Findings of this initial investigation suggest that the intention to commence firearm ownership might represent an at-risk period, especially for individuals with a history of suicidal thinking. Replication of findings in larger and more clinically severe samples is needed.
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