AN INVESTIGATION OF THE INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF THE CAPABILITY FOR SUICIDE AND ACUTE AGITATION ON SUICIDALITY IN A MILITARY SAMPLE

Background According to the interpersonal theory of suicide (1, 2), the difficulties inherently associated with death by suicide deter many individuals from engaging in suicidal behavior. Consistent with the notion that suicide is fearsome, acute states of heightened arousal are commonly observed in individuals immediately prior to lethal and near-lethal suicidal behavior. We suggest that among individuals who possess elevated levels of the...