Implicit and explicit processes of the suicidal course - PRIMEX-S

• Applicant: Juliane Brüdern, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 433498307

In the past two decades, a considerable number of clinical models trying to understand suicidal behavior have been developed. Suicidal behavior was considered as a symptom of a mental disorder and the main focus has been identifying clinical risk factors of suicidal behavior (e.g. depression, hopelessness). However, intensive research concerning risk factors and reducing symptoms of mental disorders have not been shown to reduce suicide attempts or suicides. The aim of this study is the investigation of implicit and explicit processes in suicidal patients. The dual-regulation model serves as the theoretical framework, which assumes that human information processing and behavior are controlled by both implicit and explicit processes. By means of the dual-regulation model, different types of suicidal behavior (e.g. planned vs. impulsive) can be theoretically explained, which has been neglected in current suicide theories.In detail, we plan to investigate implicit associations with death and processes of attentional and impulse control in patients with suicidal thoughts and behavior as well. Results will be compared with a control group in order to identify critical markers of suicidal thoughts and behavior. So far, there exist only a few studies investigating implicit associations or attentional and behavioral processes in suicidal patients. Recent studies have shown that a strong association with death and a suicide-specific attentional bias were associated with suicidal thoughts and prospectively predict a suicide attempt.This project provides an innovative perspective for the investigation of suicidality and closes an important theoretical and empirical gap in suicide research. The findings of this study help to improve the measurement and prediction of suicidality. Furthermore, existing interventions can be complemented, for example, by a specific training to improve the control of suicidal behavioral impulses.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Switzerland
• Co-Investigators: Professorin Dr. Heide Glaesmer; Dr. Lena Spangenberg
• Cooperation Partner: Dr. Maria Stein