Hopelessness, Depression, Substance Disorder, and Suicidality: a 13-Year Community-Based Study

Using a longitudinal study design with a community sample of more than 3,000 participants, the authors examined if hopelessness was a long-term predictor of suicidal behaviours. The association of hopelessness at baseline & incident suicidal behaviours in the 13-year follow-up was assessed, adjusting for depression & substance use disorders. Hopelessness was predictive of suicide, suicide attempts, & suicide ideation in the follow-up period, even after adjustment. Persons who expressed hopelessness in 1981 were 11.2 times as likely to have died by suicide over the 13-year follow-up interval. It is concluded that intervention strategies that lower hopelessness may be effective for suicide prevention. (21 refs.) JA