The Role of Affect in Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors

Risk factors, theoretical explanations, and treatment suggestions for suicidal behaviors have historically focused largely on cognitions, but a more comprehensive picture may be provided by examining the role of affect in suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In the current study the link between affect and suicide within the theoretical framework of the circumplex model was examined empirically. Data from 104 participants demonstrated that both positive and negative affect are related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and that affect provided additional information about suicidality over and above the cognitive variable of hopelessness. The findings support that suicidal risk assessment may be enhanced by evaluating both hopelessness and affect, and that negative affect, in particular, is important to address in the treatment of suicidal individuals.