# Mechanisms impacting proximal transitions to suicidal behavior among self-injurers.

> **NIH NIH R15** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN EAU CLAIRE · 2020 · $412,750

## Abstract

Project Summary
Deaths from suicide continue to be a major public health concern, particularly among youth and young adults,
 for whom suicide is the second leading cause of death. To advance suicide prevention, research that
 examines interacting processes covarying with and preceding acute suicidal behaviors are needed.
 Non-suicidal self-injury is identified as a robust predictor of suicidal behavior, with theories suggesting
 it confers risk by contributing to decreased aversion to, and increased cognitive bias towards, self-
 harm. Very little is known about the short-term temporal course of NSSI in relation to suicidal
 behavior, and information about possible mechanisms that facilitate, or reduce, transition to suicidal
 behavior among those engaging in NSSI is sparse. The proposed project aims to provide data filling
 gaps in the field of suicide research by conducting a micro-longitudinal study of transdiagnostic
 processes believed to interact with and influence risk for suicidal behavior conferred by NSSI. Using
 the Integrative-Motivational-Volitional (IMV) theory of suicide as a guide, the current study proposes
 that variability in sleep quality and emotional reactivity will interact with self-perceptions and perceived
 social connectedness to influence NSSI features and mechanisms of risk to predict near-term, acute,
 change in suicidal behavior. Young adults reporting current NSSI and suicidal ideation will wear
 actigraph watches (to obtain sleep data) and complete daily diary assessments of the study variables
 along with weekly lab-based assessment for 4 weeks, and complete 1- and 2-month follow-ups. Multi-
 level modeling analyses will examine the moderating effects of sleep and emotional reactivity on the
 proposed risk-processes to influence NSSI and suicidal behaviors over days, weeks, and months.
 The results will provide novel and essential information to the field of suicidology by advancing
 current knowledge about acute risk for suicide and have potential to significantly impact clinical
 practice by identifying specific, modifiable markers of risk that can translate into clinical targets for
 assessment and intervention strategies.
Relevance
Suicide rates continue to rise in the U.S. and research examining psychological processes impacting acute
 transitions to suicidal behavior is desperately needed. Identifying mechanisms that influence other
 factors to increase or reduce near-term risk for suicide can advance both the science and prevention
 of suicide.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10114676
- **Project number:** 2R15MH110960-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN EAU CLAIRE
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer Jo Muehlenkamp
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $412,750
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2024-09-10

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10114676

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10114676, Mechanisms impacting proximal transitions to suicidal behavior among self-injurers. (2R15MH110960-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10114676. Licensed CC0.

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