Broad and narrow personality traits as markers of one-time and repeated suicide attempts: A population-based study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studying personality traits with the potential to differentiate between individuals engaging in suicide attempts of different degrees of severity could help us to understand the processes underlying the link of personality and nonfatal suicidal behaviours and to identify at-risk groups. One approach may be to examine whether narrow, i.e., lower-order personality traits may be more useful than their underlying, broad personality trait dimensions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated qualitative and quantitative differences in broad and narrow personality traits between one-time and repeated suicide attempters in a longitudinal, population-based sample of young French Canadian adults using two multivariate regression models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One broad (Compulsivity: OR = 2.0; 95% CI 1.2–3.5) and one narrow personality trait (anxiousness: OR = 1.1; 95% CI 1.01–1.1) differentiated between individuals with histories of repeated and one-time suicide attempts. Affective instability [(OR = 1.1; 95% CI 1.04–1.1)] and anxiousness [(OR = .92; 95% CI .88–.95)], on the other hand, differentiated between nonattempters and one-time suicide attempters.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Emotional and cognitive dysregulation and associated behavioural manifestations may be associated with suicide attempts of different severity. While findings associated with narrow traits may be easier to interpret and link to existing sociobiological theories, larger effect sizes associated with broad traits such as Compulsivity may be better suited to objectives with a more clinical focus.</p

Nonfatal suicidal behaviors: contributions of personality traits, genes, and gene-environment interactions

Despite decades of dedicated research, individuals and groups at risk for suicidality are not easily identified and prevention and management of suicidal tendencies present considerable clinical challenges. The well-documented heterogeneity and multifactorial character of suicidal behaviors has also faced us with unique research challenges. In order to understand the many components involved in suicidal diathesis and its complex dynamics, we used a multidimensional approach investigating independent, additive contributions of factors across risk domains simultaneously, in addition to moderating and mediating influences. Using a powerful study design and a population-based cohort of young individuals, we assessed independent contributions of personality traits; identified personality and environmental factors whose influence on suicidal behaviors may be conditional on specific genotypes and gender; and, refined suicidal phenotypes and tested personality traits as candidate endophenotypes. The last two aims, investigation of gene-environment interactions and improved phenotypic characterization, address two important, rarely tackled limitations in the molecular studies of suicidal phenotypes. Results and implications of seven studies are presented and discussed in sections II through V. In Section II, we used a longitudinal approach to investigate epidemiology and interrelationships of several types of suicidal behaviors in our cohort. In the five chapters of Section III, we examined different aspects of the relationship of personality traits and non-fatal suicidal behaviors, addressing some of the methodological drawbacks in the field: the predominantly cross-sectional rather than developmental approaches; strong emphasis on broMalgré des années de recherche dédiées, les individus et groupes a risque de comportement suicidaire ne sont pas identifiés facilement. De plus, la prévention et le traitement des tendances suicidaires nous présentent aves des difficultés cliniques complexes. En outre, la recherche sur ce problème est compliquée par la hétérogénéité et un caractère multifactoriel du comportement suicidaire. Pour mieux comprendre des facteurs de diathèse suicidaire et leurs interactions complexes, on a employé une approche multidimensionnelle. Cette approche nous permit d'examiner les contributions indépendantes des facteurs de risques provenant de plusieurs domaines. Elle nous également permit d'étudier les effets modérateurs et médiateurs. En utilisant un plan d'échantillonnage stratifié et une cohorte de jeunes individus issus de la population générale, on a évalué des contributions indépendantes de traits de personnalité; on a identifié les traits de personnalité et des facteurs environnementaux dont l'influence sur le comportement suicidaire dépend du génotype spécifique et du sexe. On a également essayé de raffiner les phénotypes suicidaires et tester agressivité-turbulence, un trait de personnalité, comme endophénotype. Ces deux derniers objectifs - une exploration des interactions entre les gènes et les environnements et une caractérisation améliorée de phénotype – nous ont permis de contrôler des limitations importantes des études moléculaire du comportement suicidaire et d'autres phénotypes psychiatrique complexes. Les résultats de nos sept études sont présentées aux sections II-V. Dans la section II, on utilise une approche longitudinale pour étudier l'épidémiologie et la re

ETHNIC IDENTITY AND TYPE 2 DIABETES HEALTH ATTITUDES IN AMERICANS OF AFRICAN ANCESTRY

Background: Exploring the role of ethnic identity may be a good starting point toward a better understanding of health attitudes in different communities. This knowledge would be most useful in addressing diseases that cause significant burden and for which known prevention and morbidity-reducing strategies are effective.Objective: The main objective was to investigate possible associations between measures of ethnic identity and health attitudes toward type 2 diabetes mellitus by using a questionnaire-based measure