(PS4-94) Suicide-Related Syllogistic Reasoning Predicts Depression and Anxiety Sensitivity Among Adult National Guard Members

Syllogistic reasoning, a form of logical deduction, has been investigated in depressed and anxious individuals to examine working memory and accuracy in disorder-specific syllogisms. However, little work has been done to explore syllogistic reasoning when centered around suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). National Guard members, a diverse and comparably understudied military branch, are at an elevated risk of STBs. This group has the unique responsibility to utilize logical reasoning to employ strategies for successful missions. Faulty cognitive modeling can have negative effects on occupation and mental health among Guard members.
The current study investigated if impaired syllogistic reasoning relates to other cognitive distortions (i.e., anxiety and depression sensitivity) in two National Guard samples (n=168) with elevated suicide risk. A Syllogism Scale, in which two premises lead to a conclusion, was created to measure logistic reasoning skills of participants. This scale included 12 syllogisms, 4 being non-remarkable (i.e., “All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.”) and 8 being suicide-related (i.e., “If I am strong, then I could kill myself. I am not strong. Therefore, I could not kill myself.”) Scores on this Syllogism Scale (SS) were used to predict Depression Sensitivity (DS), overall Anxiety Sensitivity (AS), and Anxiety Sensitivity-Cognitive Concerns (AS-CC). Linear regressions examining DS, AS, and AS-CC scores were completed in two phases, first using the total syllogism score, then only the suicide-related syllogisms.
Total syllogism scores predicted both DS (F(1, 162) = 18.20, p < .001; β = 1.12, SE = 0.26, t(162) = 4.27, p < .001, Adj. R2 = .10) and AS-CC (F(1,158) = 12.66, p < .001; β = 0.67, SE = 0.19, t(158) = 3.56, p < .001, Adj. R2 = .07). Overall AS was not significant (F(1,51) = 1.64, p = .21, β = 1.42, SE = 1.10, t(51) = 1.28; p = .21, Adj. R2 = .03).
When analyses were re-evaluated with only suicide-related syllogisms, similar results emerged. Suicide-related syllogisms predicted DS (F(1,162) = 18.44, p < .001, β = 2.51, SE = 0.58, t(162) = 4.29, p < .001, Adj. R2 = .10). Suicide-related syllogisms also predicted AS-CC (F(1,158) = 15.6, p < .001; β = 1.62, SE = 0.41, t(158) = 3.95, p < .001, Adj. R2 = .08).
These results may inform clinicians about the importance of early assessment of cognitive modeling and reasoning skills among National Guard members. As impaired syllogistic reasoning relates to elevated anxiety and depression sensitivity, as well as cognitive distortions (i.e., black and white thinking, overgeneralizing), new interventions targeting basic reasoning skills using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) could benefit Guard members’ cognitive rigidity and monitor risky distortions. As this study is limited to a high-risk sample, its results may not be generalizable to other Guard members. Future research should replicate this study in other military branches and high-risk populations outside of the armed forces, as well as include a more diverse set of suicide-related syllogisms.