Which symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder are associated with suicide attempts?

• Association of symptom clusters of PTSD and specific PTSD symptoms with suicide attempts.
• Re-experiencing and avoidance clusters are associated with suicide attempts (SA) in individuals with PTSD.
• Having physical reactions by reminders of the trauma associated with SA in individuals with PTSD.
• Unable to recall aspects of the trauma associated with SA in individuals with PTSD.
• Having the sense of a foreshortened future is associated with SA in individuals with PTSD.

Individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder are at increased risk for suicide attempts. The present study aimed to determine which of the specific DSM-IV symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are independently associated with suicide attempts. Data came from Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). The NESARC has a sample size of N = 34 653. The full sample size included in analyses was 2322 individuals with PTSD. Among individuals with lifetime PTSD, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, as well as any mood, substance, personality, or anxiety disorder (excluding PTSD), increasing numbers of re-experiencing and avoidance symptoms were significantly correlated with suicide attempts. Of the specific symptoms, having physical reactions by reminders of the trauma, being unable to recall some part of it, and having the sense of a foreshortened future, were all associated with suicide attempts. These findings will help extend our understanding of the elevated risk for suicide attempts in individuals with PTSD.