Positive psychological approach to suicide risk in a clinical sample

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: To examine risk and protective factors for suicide in a clinical sample, 62 individuals seeking outpatient therapy at the Psychological Services Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma were sampled. Participants completed several questionnaires assessing anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, hope, optimism, and the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide. The participants' therapist was also asked to complete several demographic questions and information about the clients diagnoses, presenting problems, and intervention(s) used.

Findings and Conclusions: Overall, results revealed that both hope and optimism were significantly negatively related to perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. This suggests that people who have higher hope or optimism are buffered from suicide risk. Further, the interpersonal psychological theory of suicide approached significance in predicting suicidal ideation. It is important to note that the current study was a strong test of these hypotheses since known risk factors for suicidal behavior were statistically controlled for in all analyses.