Self-disgust as a potential mechanism underlying the association between PTSD and suicide risk

C Alex Brake; Sasha M Rojas; Christal L Badour; Courtney E Dutton; Matthew T Feldner

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.01.003

Self-disgust as a potential mechanism underlying the association between PTSD and suicide risk

J Anxiety Disord. 2017 Apr:47:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.01.003. Epub 2017 Jan 8.

Authors

C Alex Brake¹, Sasha M Rojas², Christal L Badour³, Courtney E Dutton², Matthew T Feldner⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA; Laureate Institute for Brain Research, 6655 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa, OK, 74136, USA.

PMID: 28126678
DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.01.003

Abstract

Suicide risk is highly prevalent among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Self-disgust, defined as disgust directed internally and comprised of disgust with oneself (disgusting self) and with one's behaviors (disgusting ways), may impact this increased risk. The present study examined self-disgust as a putative mechanism linking PTSD symptoms with suicide risk. A sample of 347 trauma-exposed undergraduates completed measures of PTSD symptoms, suicide risk, self-disgust, and depressive symptoms. Controlling for depressive symptoms, a process model indicated PTSD symptoms were positively linked to suicide risk via increased disgusting self but not disgusting ways. Process models examining individual PTSD symptom clusters revealed positive, indirect links between all PTSD symptom clusters except alterations in arousal and reactivity and suicide risk via disgusting self. These findings expand on growing literature documenting the importance of self-disgust in trauma-related pathology by identifying connections with suicide risk. Future directions and clinical considerations are discussed.

Keywords: Disgust; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Suicide risk; Trauma.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Depression / psychology*
Emotions*
Female
Humans
Male
Risk Factors
Self Concept*
Self-Injurious Behavior / psychology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
Suicide / psychology*
Symptom Assessment
Young Adult