The Relationship of Self-reported Executive Functioning to Suicide Ideation and Attempts: Findings from a Large U.S.-based Online Sample

Abstract

An increasing number of studies demonstrate that individuals with a history of suicidality exhibit impaired executive functioning abilities. The current study examines whether these differences are linked to suicidal thoughts or suicidal acts—a crucial distinction given that most people who think about suicide will not act on their thoughts. A large online sample of U.S. participants with a history of suicide ideation (n = 197), suicide attempts (n = 166), and no suicidality (n = 180) completed self-report measures assessing executive functioning, suicide ideation and attempts; in addition, depression, self-efficacy, and history of drug abuse and brain injury were assessed as potential covariates. Individuals with recent suicide attempts reported significantly worse executive functioning than ideators. This difference was not accounted for by depression, self-efficacy, history of drug abuse or brain injury. Self-reported executive functioning may represent an important short-term risk factor for suicide attempts.

Keywords:

• executive functioning
• risk factors for suicide
• suicide
• suicide prevention
• suicide risk

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Boaz Y. Saffer

Boaz Y. Saffer, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

E. David Klonsky

E. David Klonsky, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.