Does Attachment Mediate PTSD and Suicidality in a Sample of Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Combat Veterans?

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidality is a growing concern in the US due to the consistent rise in attempted and completed suicides in the veteran community. Consequently, continued scholarship to delve into the relationship between these two variables is imperative. This study used a sample of 65 treatment-seeking combat veterans who deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). We conducted 12 PROCESS simple mediation models and analyzed suicidality, generalized anxiety, and depression’s relationship indirectly through attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety to PTSD. Next, we repeated the model, making suicidality the dependent variable, with PTSD, generalized anxiety, and depression indirectly through attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety. Lastly, in an attempt to understand the relationship between suicidality and PTSD, we conducted two parallel mediation models. The results indicate attachment dimensions and PTSD may be reciprocal, that is, working as a feedback loop, which have clinical implications.