An Examination of United States Air Force Suicide Decedents Based on Documented Suicide Attempt Histories

Abstract

In this study, we compared United States military decedents who died by suicide on their first attempt with decedents who had made multiple attempts. Death investigation files for 217 United States Air Force (USAF) personnel who died by suicide between 1996 and 2006 were coded for demographic, psychosocial, and psychiatric characteristics. Among USAF suicide decedents, 77% died by suicide on their first attempt and 23% had a documented history of at least one prior attempt. Decedents with a history of prior attempts were more likely to have an interpersonal stressor within 3 months of death and were twice as likely to have a documented Axis I diagnosis. There were few differences between military suicide decedents based on history of prior attempts. Further research is needed to inform military suicide prevention endeavors.

Keywords:

• air force
• military
• suicide
• suicide death
• suicide risk factor

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kristen Kochanski-Ruscio

Kristen Kochanski-Ruscio, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Elicia Nademin

Elicia Nademin, Phoenix Veteran's Administration Home-based Primary Care Program, Phoenix, AZ, USA.

Kanchana Perera

Kanchana Perera, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Jessica M. LaCroix

Jessica M. LaCroix, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Margaret Baer

Margaret Baer, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Helena O. Hassen

Helena O. Hassen, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Maj David Englert

Maj David Englert, United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Andrews AFB, MD, USA.

Marjan Ghahramanlou-Holloway

Marjan Ghahramanlou-Holloway, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.