(PS4-92) PTSD Symptoms and Veterans’ Risk for Firearm Suicide

Abstract Text: Suicide, a leading cause of death among Veterans, occurs at significantly higher rates than in the general population. The vast majority of Veteran suicides involve firearms 73.5% (VA, 2024). Evidence suggests that unsecure firearm storage (e.g., loaded, unlocked) is associated with increased risk of suicide (Shenassa et al., 2004; Dempsey et al., 2019) and at least one-third of Veteran firearm owners store at least one firearm unsecured (Simonetti et al., 2018). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), characterized by symptoms of intrusions, negative alterations in cognition and mood, avoidance, and hyperarousal that develop following exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence, is more common among Veterans than the general population (Gates et al., 2012) and may impact suicide risk and firearm storage. Trauma-exposed individuals may evidence distorted views regarding the pervasiveness of violence or their own vulnerability (e.g., the world is dangerous) and/or maintain hyperawareness to real or imagined threats (e.g., hyperarousal; APA, 2013), which can lead to the desire to have ready access to a firearm for protection. In a sample of National Guard members, Stanley and colleagues (2021) found that PTSD hyperarousal symptoms were associated with storing a firearm in a nonsecure location. To determine if such findings extend to the Veteran population, the current study examined the relationship between PTSD symptom clusters and firearm storage behaviors among Veterans (n = 233) presenting to outpatient mental health VA clinics located in the southeastern region of the United States. Using four logistic regression analyses, we examined the impact of PTSD symptom clusters on firearm storage practices, including whether firearms are stored loaded or unloaded, whether firearms are stored in a locked location versus an unlocked location, whether ammunition is stored in a locked versus unlocked location, and whether or not the Veteran reported carrying a loaded firearm on their person in the past 30 days. Participants completed in-person self-report measures, including the PCL-5 (Weathers et al., 2013) and the MIRECC firearm questionnaire (Simonetti, 2019). The sample was predominately male (76.8%) and Black (55.4%), ranging in ages from 19 to 85 (M = 55.77, SD = 14.70). Most Veterans reported serving in the Army (43.8%). The model examining firearm storage in a locked versus unlocked location was statistically significant χ2 (4, N = 101) = 11.41, p = .022. The only significant predictor was PTSD hyperarousal symptoms, which was associated with a .86 odds ratio. This indicates that for every one unit increase in hyperarousal symptoms; the odds were .86 times lower that Veterans would report storing their firearm locked. Other logistic regression analyses were non-significant. This finding is consistent with the results from Stanley and colleagues (2021) and suggests that Veterans with higher PTSD hyperarousal symptoms may be more likely to store their firearms unlocked, increasing suicide risk. Targeted interventions addressing PTSD hyperarousal symptoms while promoting secure firearm storage practices could reduce the risk of firearm-related suicide among Veterans (e.g., Hoyt et al., 2022).