Perceived entrapment, goal adjustment and goal ambivalence as predictors for suicide ideation in high-risk prisoners

The integrated motivational-volitional (IMV) model of suicide presents a pathway between perceived entrapment to the development of suicide ideation. This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study used a sample of 106 male high-risk prisoners, to explore the predictive power of entrapment and goal factors linked to self-regulation (goal adjustment and ambivalence about personal goals) for suicide ideation. A logistic hierarchical regression showed that four factors: goal re-engagement, goal disengagement, goal ambivalence and internal entrapment, as a set, were able to predict any current suicide ideation over and above established risk factors (depression, social support, rumination and history of suicidal behaviour), (8) = 45.90, p < 0.001. As internal entrapment (odds ratio = 1.16) increased, this contributed significantly to the likelihood of current suicide ideation. This adds to findings that level of internal entrapment is an important factor in understanding the presence of suicide ideation and that this may also be applicable in prisoners. Interestingly, against the direction of hypotheses, higher willingness to engage with new goals (OR = 1.21) and lower historic suicide risk (OR = 0.87), also significantly contributed to the likelihood of current suicide ideation. Findings are discussed in relation to existing literature and with consideration of this specialist participant group.