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Abstract
The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide (IPTS) differentiates the desire to die from the capability to inflict lethal self-injury. Despite increasing agreement in the literature regarding the theoretical relevance of the construct in understanding military suicide, acquired capability has rarely been evaluated among currently or recently suicidal active-duty service members. To this end, the present study pooled baseline data for 733 active-duty service members enrolled in one of two clinical trials to prevent suicide. We hypothesized that self-reported acquired capability would be higher among men, and would increase with (a) suicide attempt frequency and (b) combat deployment frequency. Lifetime history of suicide attempts was assessed using the Suicide Attempt Self-Injury Count. Scores of self-reported acquired capability were based on the 20-item version of the Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale (ACSS) and the 7-item fearlessness about death subscale (ACSS-FAD). Consistent with the IPTS, male gender, suicide attempts (none, single, multiple), and deployments (0, 1, 2, 3+) to a combat zone predicted increased ACSS and ACSS-FAD scores. Findings support the relevance of the IPTS in a military context.
Funding
This work was in part supported by the Military Suicide Research Consortium (MSRC), an effort supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs under award no. W81XWH-10-2-0181. This work was also partially supported by the Department of the Army through the federal grant award W81XWH-11-2-0123, awarded and administered by the Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP). The content of this information does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the government, and no official endorsement should be inferred.