Title

Affective Depression Mediates PTSD to Suicide in a Sample of Treatment-Seeking First Responders

Authors

James Whitworth
Jeanine Galusha
Jose Carbajal, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityFollow
Warren Ponder
Donna Schuman

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2023

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the associations of comorbid

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), affective or somatic depression, and

suicide among first responders (FRs). Method: We used baseline data from

FRs (N = 232) who sought services at a nonprofit mental health agency specializing

in treating trauma exposed FRs. We conducted two PROCESS simple

mediation models with PTSD as the predictor, affective depression and somatic

depression as the mediators, and suicidality as the dependent variable.

Results: Affective depression significantly mediated the relationship between

PTSD and suicidality, whereas somatic depression did not. The direct effect of

PTSD on suicidality was not significant. Limitations: These data are

cross-sectional and should be followed up with longitudinal analyses across

the course of treatment. Conclusions: To reduce suicide risk, it is recommended

that clinicians target affective depression instead of PTSD symptoms.

Volume

65

Issue

3

First Page

249

Last Page

254

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000002724

Repository Citation

Whitworth, James; Galusha, Jeanine; Carbajal, Jose; Ponder, Warren; and Schuman, Donna, "Affective Depression Mediates PTSD to Suicide in a Sample of Treatment-Seeking First Responders" (2023). Faculty Publications. 29.
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/socialwork_facultypubs/29