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'Flash-forwards' and suicidal ideation: A prospective investigation of mental imagery, entrapment and defeat in a cohort from the Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey.

Abstract:

‘Flash-forwards’ - mental images of suicide - have been reported in selected Caucasian samples. Perceptions of defeat and entrapment are considered to be associated with suicidal ideation. We aimed to investigate (1) the presence of suicidalflash-forwards in people with recent suicidal ideation versus those without such ideation in an Asian sample, and (2) associations between suicidal flash-forwards, and perceptions of entrapment accounting for suicidal ideation.


Eighty two suicidal and 80 non-suicidal participants from the Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey completed questionnaires including suicidal ideation, presence of suicidalflash-forward images, defeat and entrapment, at baseline and seven weeks later.


Suicidal‘flash-forwards’ were present only in suicidal cases. People with recent suicidal ideation and suicidal flash-forwards had more severe suicidal ideation than those withoutflash-forwards. Compared to those without suicidal ideation, people with recent suicidal ideation reported higher entrapment and defeat levels. Resolution of suicidal ideation over time was associated with fewer suicidalflash-forwards and reduced entrapment perceptions. At baseline and seven weeks, suicidal ideation was predicted by an interaction between suicidal flash-forwards presence and perceptions of entrapment.


Mental imagery of suicide appears to be associated with suicidal ideation, and may represent a novel target in suicidal risk assessment and prevention.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1016/j.psychres.2016.10.018

Authors

More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
ContEd
Department:
Continuing Education
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Psychiatry
Role:
Author


More from this funder
Funding agency for:
Holmes, E
Grant:
WT088217
More from this funder
Funding agency for:
Holmes, E
Grant:
WT088217
More from this funder
Funding agency for:
Holmes, E
Grant:
WT088217
Career Development Fellowship


Publisher:
Elsevier
Journal:
Psychiatry Res More from this journal
Volume:
246
Pages:
453-460
Publication date:
2016-10-01
Acceptance date:
2016-10-15
DOI:
ISSN:
1872-7123, 0165-1781


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:656839
UUID:
uuid:7973c751-d3c2-4978-99af-012b23804907
Local pid:
pubs:656839
Source identifiers:
656839
Deposit date:
2016-12-13
ARK identifier:

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