Exploratory Analysis of Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Psychological Processes Implied in Risk-taking and Suicidal Behaviors, in Adult and Adolescent At-risk

Summary

In a recent report, Santé Publique France (2023), reported that 4.2% of 18-85 year-olds had thought about suicide in the last 12 months, and 6.8% had attempted suicide in their lifetime and 0.5% in the last year. Even more recently, the DREES (Direction de la recherche, des études, de l'évaluation et des statistiques auprès des Ministères Sociaux) published a report on May 16, 2024, showing a sharp rise in hospitalization rates for self-inflicted acts among female patients aged between 10 and 24, with a peak around age 15. Two-thirds of these hospitalizations for self-inflicted injuries are related to deliberate drug intoxication. Depression, bipolar disorders and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (among other psychological disorders) are known risk factors for suicide, which is the leading cause of death in this clinical context. In addition to these formalized psychopathological elements, risk behaviors underpinned by psychological processes common to suicide attempts are suspected and need to be studied in depth.

Research into psychiatry and the psychopathology of suicide has identified a number of risk and protective factors. These psychological determinants - or processes - act alongside other key factors such as the environment and social ties. Life contexts can have an impact on health, and more specifically on the psychopathology of individuals, through disturbances of a biological, psychological and social nature. It is important to be able to describe what processes are at work and how they explain the development and maintenance of behaviours that put one's life and health at risk. This is part of a preventive approach to mental health. We suggest that the study of psychological processes such as suicidal ruminations, impulsivity and interpersonal needs (e.g. the interpersonal theory of suicide) is necessary to understand their involvement in risk-taking and suicidal behavior. To our knowledge, few studies of this type are underway in France, particularly with vulnerable clinical populations (adolescents/adults). The inclusion of a process-centered approach (Kinderman, 2015), in a transdiagnostic and preventive way, constitutes an innovative approach.

Conditions

• Suicidal Ideas
• Suicidal Ideation
• Risk-taking

Interventions

OTHER

Psychological Processes

* The sense of thwarted belonging and perceived burden will be measured using the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ; Van Orden et al., 2012). The back-translated French version by Landrault et al. (2019) will be used. This scale is based on a seven-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (not at all true for me) to 7 (very true for me). * To assess impulsivity, we will use the short version of the UPPS validated in French by Billieux and colleagues (2012). It comprises 20 items divided into 5 dimensions (negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance and sensation seeking). Participants were asked to respond on a Likert scale from 1 ("I strongly agree") to 4 ("I strongly disagree"). * We will use the French version of the SRS (Suicidal Rumination Scale, Rogers et al., 2022), back-translated for this study. This eight-item scale assesses suicidal ruminations.

OTHER

Risk-taking variables

* One of the behavioral tasks based on a real-life model of risky decision-making is BART (Lejuez et al., 2002, 2007). It is based on a conceptual framework of balance between reward and loss potential (Leigh, 1999; Lejuez et al., 2002). * We will measure one of the cognitive aspects of risk-taking behavior, especially the general cognitive decision-making styles (GDMS, from Scott and Bruce, 1995; Gerard et al., 2016). * We will measure negative (NRTB , Duell et al., 2020) and positive (PRTB, Fryts et al., 2024) self-reported risk-taking behaviour.

OTHER

Suicidal ideation and behavior

Suicidal ideation and behavior were measured using the screening grid, the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS screen version, Posner, Brown, Stanley et al., 2011). It is composed of 6 questions, which take into account the potential method of suicide, the presence of suicidal intent and/or ideation with a plan or intention. This scale has high reliability and validity in general paediatric emergencies (Scudder et al., 2023) and psychiatric samples (Campos et al., 2023). It classifies people as being at low or high risk of suicide, based on the presence or absence of significant active suicidal ideation in the last three months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Centre Hospitalier Spécialisé de la Savoie (Chambéry)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Université Savoie Mont Blanc

  collaborator OTHER

• Centre Hospitalier Metropole Savoie

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-04-15

Primary Completion

2027-04-15

Completion

2027-04-15

Countries

• France

Study Locations