Examining heterogeneity in the affect‐regulating function of suicidal ideation: Person‐specific analyses in male inpatients with depression

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionMen have an increased risk to die by suicide compared to women but are underrepresented in suicide research. To improve individual risk prediction for suicide‐related thoughts and behaviors (STBs), risk factors are increasingly being studied at an individual level. The possible affect‐regulatory function of suicidal ideation has hardly been investigated ideographically and has not yet been tested in a male sample.MethodsWe investigated the bidirectional associations between suicidal ideation and negative and positive affect in a sample of n = 21 male inpatients with unipolar depression and a history of suicidal ideation both at the group level and at the individual level. Participants underwent an intensive ecological momentary assessment for 6 days with 10 data points per day.ResultsWe found no evidence for an affect‐regulatory function of suicidal ideation at the group level, neither for effects of affect on subsequent suicidal ideation (antecedent affect‐regulatory hypothesis) nor for effects of suicidal ideation on subsequent affect (consequence affect‐regulatory hypothesis). Person‐specific analyses revealed substantial variability in strength and direction of the considered associations, especially for the associations representing the antecedent hypothesis.ConclusionThe demonstrated between‐person heterogeneity points to the necessity to individualize the investigation of risk factors to enhance prediction and prevention of STBs.