Measuring the impact of suicide attempt posttraumatic stress

Objective To examine the associations between posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS) following a medically serious suicide attempt with suicidal ideation, related interpersonal constructs, and outpatient mental health service utilization. Methods The study utilized an existing data set from a clinical trial consisting of 66 patients recruited at a level 1 trauma center following medical admission for a suicide attempt. Measures of suicide attempt‐related PTS (SA‐PTS), suicidal ideation, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and outpatient medical and mental health utilization were completed at 1 and 3 months. A series of mixed‐effects regression models were used to analyze the data. Results Greater SA‐PTS at 1 month was associated with significantly greater suicidal ideation, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness across 1 and 3 months. Conclusions Addressing PTS following a medically serious suicide attempt may aid in addressing suicide‐specific constructs and improve the recovery trajectory following hospitalization.