Cited by 86Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesTraumatic Brain Injury ResearchPosttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Chronic pain, TBI, and PTSD in military veterans: A link to suicidal ideation and violent impulses?

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Blakey, Shannon M., Wagner, H. Ryan, Naylor, Jennifer, Brancu, Mira, Lane, Ilana, Sallee, Meghann, Kimbrel, Nathan A., Elbogen, Eric B.·2018·The Journal of Pain

Abstract

The polytrauma clinical triad refers to the co-occurrence of chronic pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite research implicating dyadic relationships between these conditions and adverse outcomes, scant research has examined the polytrauma clinical triad's relation to suicide or violence. The present cross-sectional study was designed to examine whether this complex clinical presentation increases risk of suicidal ideation and violent impulses after accounting for other established risk factors. Veterans who served in the military since September 11, 2001 (N = 667) who reported chronic pain completed an interview and self-report battery. Bivariate analyses showed that suicidal ideation and violent impulses both correlated with PTSD, TBI+PTSD, pain intensity and interference, drug abuse, and major depressive disorder (MDD). Multiple regression analyses showed that: 1) race, chronic pain with PTSD, alcohol abuse, and MDD significantly predicted suicidal ideation, 2) pain interference, chronic pain with TBI, chronic pain with PTSD, chronic pain with TBI+PTSD, drug abuse, and MDD significantly predicted violent impulses, and 3) pain interference was a more critical predictor of suicidal and violent ideation than pain intensity. Implications for risk assessment and treatment are discussed.Perspective This article presents results from a study examining predictors of suicide and violence risk among a sample of post-9/11 U.S. Veterans with chronic pain. Health care professionals should assess for pain interference, TBI, PTSD, depression, and alcohol/drug abuse when conducting risk assessments with this population.

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Authors
Blakey, S. M., Wagner, H. R., Naylor, J., Brancu, M., Lane, I., Sallee, M., Kimbrel, N. A., & Elbogen, E. B.
Affiliations
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • Duke Medical Center (US)
  • Durham VA Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Blakey, Shannon M.
Venue
The Journal of Pain
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-07
Volume
19
Issue
7
Pages
797-806
ISSN
1526-5900 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2791294482
Cited by
86
References
83
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2
FWCI
8.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Pain (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research
  • Education and Clinical Center
  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (R34 AT008399-01)
  • Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Career Development Award (1lK2RX000908)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
Keywords
chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, military veterans, pain interference, pain intensity, major depressive disorder, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, suicide risk assessment, post-9/11 veterans
MeSH terms
Brain Injuries, Traumatic, Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Veterans, Violence, Suicidal Ideation, Chronic Pain

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