Boffa JW, et al. – The current study was interested in exploring the role of hopelessness in the association between PTSD symptom change and suicidality. The findings suggested that pre–treatment hopelessness might serve to identify trauma–exposed people for whom PTSD treatment would significantly decrease future suicide attempt (FSA) likelihood. Furthermore, reductions in FSA likelihood during treatment might be due in part to reduced hopelessness.

Methods

• For this research, information was gathered from members (N = 159) in a larger randomized clinical trial of a suicide risk-factor intervention.
• Self-report questionnaires evaluated hopelessness, PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, and FSA likelihood at pre-treatment and one-month follow-up.

Results

• Results of this study suggested that pre-treatment hopelessness emerged as a significant moderator, such that overall PTSD symptom reductions were associated with overall reductions in FSA likelihood among those at or above (but not those below) the sample mean of pre-treatment hopelessness.
• In a subsample of people who revealed FSA likelihood > 0 and elevated hopelessness at pre-treatment, overall pre-treatment-to-month-one reductions in hopelessness significantly mediated the connection between overall PTSD symptom reductions and diminished FSA likelihood during this same time period, even after accounting for depression symptom changes.