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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as Risk Factors for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors

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Suicide: Phenomenology and Neurobiology

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are associated with increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This chapter explores possible underlying neurocognitive and neuroanatomical factors related to PTSD and TBI that may contribute to increased susceptibility to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The neurocognitive working model of suicidal behavior is used as a guiding framework (Jollant et al. 2011). Possible mechanisms involving altered modulation of value attribution, impaired regulation of emotional and cognitive responses, and facilitation of acts in an emotional context are explored within PTSD, TBI, and their co-occurrence. Discussion of clinical implications and limitations of this conceptual model, as well as directions for future research are provided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterans Integrated Service Network 19 (VISN 19) Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 1055 Clermont St., Denver, CO, 80220, USA

    Sarra Nazem & Lindsey L. Monteith

  2. VISN 19 MIRECC, Department of Neurology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA

    Eryn Lonnquist

  3. VISN 19 MIRECC, Departments of Psychiatry, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Neurology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA

    Lisa A. Brenner

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA

    Sarra Nazem & Lindsey L. Monteith

Authors
  1. Sarra Nazem
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  2. Eryn Lonnquist
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  3. Lindsey L. Monteith
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  4. Lisa A. Brenner
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Correspondence to Sarra Nazem .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Global Safety Pharmacology, Pfizer, Inc., Groton, Connecticut, USA

    Keri E. Cannon

  2. Preclinical Safety, AbbVie, North Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Thomas J. Hudzik

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Nazem, S., Lonnquist, E., Monteith, L.L., Brenner, L.A. (2014). Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as Risk Factors for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors. In: Cannon, K., Hudzik, T. (eds) Suicide: Phenomenology and Neurobiology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09964-4_6

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