Distinct effects of over-general autobiographical memory on suicidal ideation among depressed and healthy people

Wen Jiang,Ken Chen,Guangtao Hu,Jingxuan Zhang,Dongni Fan,Zhengzhi Feng

doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02877-6

Abstract

BackgroundChildhood trauma and over-general autobiographical memory (OGM) are crucial risk factors of suicide. This study aimed to investigate whether suicidal ideation was predicted by one’s childhood trauma and OGM and the mechanism of OGM underlying suicidal ideation in depression patients and healthy controls.MethodsA total of 180 depression patients and 176 matched healthy individuals were recruited in this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient was obtained. Path analysis was conducted to test a meditational model. The multigroup comparison was applied to find differences between groups.ResultsSignificant differences were detected between depression patients and healthy controls with respect to childhood trauma, OGM, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior. OGM was positively correlated with both current and worst-point suicidal ideation in the depression group and significantly correlated with worst-point suicidal ideation in the healthy control group. The path model showed that childhood trauma had a direct impact on the current suicidal ideation directly, and an indirect influence through OGM and worst-point suicidal ideation. Multigroup analysis further demonstrated that OGM affected and mediated the current suicidal ideation due to childhood trauma in depression patients, whereas only worst-point suicidal ideation was affected in healthy controls.ConclusionsThe OGM mediates suicidal ideation in depression patients, but only affects the worst-point suicidal ideation in the healthy controls. As it is one of the major risk factors of suicidal ideation in depression, amelioration of OGM might be an useful method to reduce or prevent suicidal ideation in depression patients.

Highlights

Childhood trauma and over-general autobiographical memory (OGM) are crucial risk factors of suicide
Full path model analysis The current results showed that the suicidal path model presented an overall acceptable fit with the observed data (χ2/df = 2.127; comparative fit index (CFI) = 1.00; Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.98; Normed fit index (NFI) = 0.99; root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.056; P = 0.12)
These results suggested that the suicidal ideation and behavior of depression patients are significantly higher than those of healthy individuals, while the background factors and the moderator (OGM) of suicide are more severe in depression patients

Summary

Introduction

Childhood trauma and over-general autobiographical memory (OGM) are crucial risk factors of suicide. The pre-motivational phase is composed of diathesis, environment, and life events, describing the background factors and triggering events. In this part, childhood trauma or early-life adversity is an unequivocal risk factor, which can disrupt attachment relationships, change the epigenetic inheritance of genes, and affect cortisol regulation [6]. The motivational phase focuses on the psychological processes of suicidal ideation and intent. In this part, a threat to self-moderation (TSM) is a critical factor that turns defeat and humiliation into suicidal ideation [5]. If someone is feeling trapped or distressed, interventions that target the factors within the motivational phase could reduce the likelihood of the emergence of suicidal ideation [11]

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