Manifestations of overarousal account for the association between cognitive anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation

Jan 1, 2016Journal of affective disorders

How feeling overly alert links anxious thinking to suicidal thoughts

AI simplified

Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Agitation and anger may explain the association between cognitive anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation.

Cognitive anxiety sensitivity is linked to suicidal thoughts.
In Study 1, agitation and insomnia were significant factors connecting cognitive anxiety sensitivity to suicidal ideation.
Study 2 found that agitation and anger independently contributed to this connection, while insomnia and nightmares did not.
Results were consistent across different participant groups, including undergraduate students and clinical outpatients.
The findings suggest that addressing cognitive anxiety sensitivity could help reduce overarousal and suicide risk.

AI simplified

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests an association between cognitive anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation. Cognitive anxiety sensitivity has also been implicated as a precursor to various forms of overarousal. These manifestations of overarousal (i.e., agitation, insomnia, nightmares, and anger) may account for the association between cognitive anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation.

METHODS: In Study 1, undergraduate students selectively sampled for recent suicidal ideation completed all measures online. In Study 2, clinical outpatients completed all measures prior to their initial intake appointments at a psychology clinic.

RESULTS: Study 1 demonstrated that agitation and insomnia individually and jointly accounted for the association between cognitive anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation, controlling for general anxiety and demographic variables. Study 2 replicated and extended these findings, such that, controlling for demographics, general anxiety, and physical and social anxiety sensitivity, agitation and anger each independently and together accounted for the association between cognitive anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation, whereas insomnia and nightmares did not.

LIMITATIONS: This study utilized a cross-sectional design and self-report measures in both samples as well as a sample of undergraduate students in Study 1.

CONCLUSIONS: Together, these findings suggest that agitation and anger may explain the previously established relationship between cognitive anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation. Targeting cognitive anxiety sensitivity in treatment may in turn reduce these forms of overarousal and thereby suicide risk.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text (XML) ↗View full text ↗

Manifestations of overarousal account for the association between cognitive anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief