Repetitive negative thinking and suicide: a burgeoning literature with need for further exploration

Curr Opin Psychol. 2018 Aug:22:68-72. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.08.027. Epub 2017 Aug 24.

Abstract

Extant research has found a significant overlap between various repetitive negative thinking (RNT) patterns, such as rumination and worry, across different affective disorders implicating that the process of repetitive negative thinking is likely trans-diagnostic. Furthermore, RNT patterns at the core of psychiatric disorders associated with suicide (e.g., rumination and worry) have been found to be associated with suicide even after accounting for the disorder. A synthesis of existing literature on repetitive negative thoughts suggest that following negative emotional experiences, RNTs may lead to a sense of entrapment and hopelessness that may contribute to the onset of suicidal ideation and then facilitate the transition from thinking about suicide to making a suicide attempt by increasing an individual's capability for suicide through repetitive exposure to violent thoughts and imagery associated with suicide.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Rumination, Cognitive*
  • Suicide / psychology*