Suicidal desire and the capability for suicide: Tests of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior among adults.
2008/01/01 by Kimberly A. Van Orden, Tracy K. Witte, Kathryn H. Gordon +2 · 1,120 citations
Medicine · Psychology · #Belongingness #Clinical psychology #Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion #Human factors and ergonomics #Injury prevention #Interpersonal communication #Interpersonal relationship #Medical emergency #Medicine #Poison control #Psychological Theory #Psychology #Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments #Psychotherapist #Social psychology #Suicidal behavior #Suicidal ideation #Suicide and Self-Harm Studies #Suicide prevention
paper · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.76.1.72
published in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 76(1), 72-83 (American Psychological Association)
openalex publication_date 2008/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Abstract
The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior (T. E. Joiner, 2005) proposes that an individual will not die by suicide unless he or she has both the desire to die by suicide and the ability to do so. Three studies test the theory's hypotheses. In Study 1, the interaction of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness predicted current suicidal ideation. In Study 2, greater levels of acquired capability were found among individuals with greater numbers of past attempts. Results also indicated that painful and provocative experiences significantly predicted acquired capability scores. In Study 3, the interaction of acquired capability and perceived burdensomeness predicted clinician-rated risk for suicidal behavior. Implications for the etiology, assessment, and treatment of suicidal behavior are discussed.
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