The Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS): Progress Toward Understanding Suicide Among Soldiers

Overview

Journal Mol Psychiatry

Specialties Molecular Biology
Psychiatry

Date 2018 Aug 15

PMID 30104726

Citations 16

Authors

James A Naifeh

Holly B Herberman Mash

Murray B Stein

Carol S Fullerton

Ronald C Kessler

Robert J Ursano

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Responding to an unprecedented increase in the suicide rate among soldiers, in 2008 the US Army and US National Institute of Mental Health funded the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS), a multicomponent epidemiological and neurobiological study of risk and resilience factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and their psychopathological correlates among Army personnel. Using a combination of administrative records, representative surveys, computerized neurocognitive tests, and blood samples, Army STARRS and its longitudinal follow-up study (STARRS-LS) are designed to identify potentially actionable findings to inform the Army's suicide prevention efforts. The current report presents a broad overview of Army STARRS and its findings to date on suicide deaths, attempts, and ideation, as well as other important outcomes that may increase suicide risk (e.g., mental disorders, sexual assault victimization). The findings highlight the complexity of environmental and genetic risk and protective factors in different settings and contexts, and the importance of life and career history in understanding suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Citing Articles

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PTSD, Comorbidities, Gender, and Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in a Large Military Cohort.

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Polygenic risk for suicide attempt is associated with lifetime suicide attempt in US soldiers independent of parental risk.

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Nonfatal suicidal behaviors among former active duty servicemembers-United States, 2013-2019.

Yard E, Brown M, Stone D Mil Behav Health. 2023; 11(1-2):45-53.

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External Validation and Updating of a Statistical Civilian-Based Suicide Risk Model in US Naval Primary Care.

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