The objective of this study was to determine whether affective instability predicts suicidal thoughts. Data from a Dutch panel study (N = 1686) was used. Affective instability was assessed with 7 items representing suddenly shifting moods. Suicidal thoughts were assessed by the occurrence of suicidal thoughts in the past week. Negative affect was indexed by anxious, depressed and angry moods extracted by factor analysis. Odds ratios using logistic regression modeling were calculated, adjusting for clinical and demographic variables. The study found that both males (OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02-1.28) and females (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.00-1.23) were more likely to experience suicidal thinking with higher affective instability. Affective instability and negative affect independently predict suicidal thoughts. Affective instability requires more attention in the assessment of suicide risk.
Keywords: affective instability; mood dysregulation; suicidal ideation.