Person:
Chiu, Wai

Profile Picture

Email Address

AA Acceptance Date

Birth Date

Research Projects

Organizational Units

Job Title

Last Name

Chiu

First Name

Wai

Name

Chiu, Wai
Author's Publications: search.filters.isAuthorOfPublication.2cee4bd7-dfba-4d18-9b5a-1946145cac87

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Parental psychopathology and the risk of suicidal behavior in their offspring: results from the World Mental Health surveys
    (Springer Nature, 2010) Gureje, O; Oladeji, Bibilola; Hwang, Irving; Chiu, Wai; Kessler, Ronald; Sampson, Nancy; Alonso, Jose; Andrade, Luis; Beautrais, A; Borges, G; Bromet, E; Bruffaerts, R; de Girolamo, G; de Graaf, R; Gal, G; He, Y; Hu, C; Iwata, N; Karam, E G; Kovess-Masféty, V; Matschinger, H; Moldovan, M V; Posada-Villa, J; Sagar, R; Scocco, P; Seedat, S; Tomov, Toma; Nock, Matthew
    Prior research suggests that parental psychopathology predicts suicidal behavior among offspring; however, the more fine-grained associations between specific parental disorders and distinct stages of the pathway to suicide are not well-understood. We set out to test the hypothesis that parental disorders associated with negative mood would predict offspring suicide ideation, whereas disorders characterized by impulsive-aggression (e,g., antisocial personality) and anxiety/agitation (e.g., panic disorder) would predict which offspring act on their suicide ideation and make a suicide attempt. Data were collected during face-to-face interviews conducted on nationally representative samples (N=55,299; age 18+) from 21 countries around the world. We tested the associations between a range of parental disorders and the onset and persistence over time (i.e., time-since-most-recent-episode controlling for age-of-onset and time-since-onset) of subsequent suicidal behavior (suicide ideation, plans, and attempts) among offspring. Analyses tested bivariate and multivariate associations between each parental disorder and distinct forms of suicidal behavior. Results revealed that each parental disorder examined increased the risk of suicide ideation among offspring, parental generalized anxiety and depression emerged as the only predictors of the onset and persistence (respectively) of suicide plans among offspring with ideation, whereas parental anti-social personality and anxiety disorders emerged as the only predictors of the onset and persistence of suicide attempts among ideators. A dose-response relation between parental disorders and respondent risk of suicide ideation and attempt also was found. Parental death by suicide was a particularly strong predictor of persistence of suicide attempts among offspring. These associations remained significant after controlling for comorbidity of parental disorders and for the presence of mental disorders among offspring. These findings should inform future explorations of the mechanisms of inter-generational transmission of suicidal behavior.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Mental Disorders, Comorbidity, and Pre-enlistment Suicidal Behavior Among New Soldiers in the U.S. Army: Results from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS)
    (Wiley-Blackwell, 2015) Nock, Matthew; Ursano, Robert J.; Heeringa, Steven G.; Stein, Murray B.; Jain, Sonia; Raman, Rema; Sun, Xiaoying; Chiu, Wai; Colpe, Lisa J.; Fullerton, Carol S.; Gilman, Stephen Edward; Hwang, Irving; Naifeh, James A.; Rosellini, Anthony; Sampson, Nancy; Schoenbaum, Michael; Zaslavsky, Alan; Kessler, Ronald
    We examined the associations between mental disorders and suicidal behavior (ideation, plans, and attempts) among new soldiers using data from the New Soldier Study (NSS) component of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS; n=38,507). Most new soldiers with a pre-enlistment history of suicide attempt reported a prior mental disorder (59.0%). Each disorder examined was associated with increased odds of suicidal behavior (ORs=2.6–8.6). Only PTSD and disorders characterized by irritability and impulsive/aggressive behavior (i.e., bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) predicted unplanned attempts among ideators. Mental disorders are important predictors of pre-enlistment suicidal behavior among new soldiers and should figure prominently in suicide screening and prevention efforts.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Prevalence and correlates of suicidal behavior among new soldiers in the US Army: results from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS)
    (Wiley-Blackwell, 2014) Ursano, Robert J.; Heeringa, Steven G.; Stein, Murray B.; Jain, Sonia; Raman, Rema; Sun, Xiaoying; Chiu, Wai; Colpe, Lisa J.; Fullerton, Carol S.; Gilman, Stephen Edward; Hwang, Irving; Naifeh, James A.; Nock, Matthew; Rosellini, Anthony; Sampson, Nancy; Schoenbaum, Michael; Zaslavsky, Alan; Kessler, Ronald
    Background The prevalence of suicide among U.S. Army soldiers has risen dramatically in recent years. Prior studies suggest that most soldiers with suicidal behaviors (i.e., ideation, plans, and attempts) had first onsets prior to enlistment. However, those data are based on retrospective self-reports of soldiers later in their Army careers. Unbiased examination of this issue requires investigation of suicidality among new soldiers. Method The New Soldier Study (NSS) of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS) used fully structured self-administered measures to estimate preenlistment histories of suicide ideation, plans, and attempts among new soldiers reporting for Basic Combat Training in 2011–2012. Survival models examined sociodemographic correlates of each suicidal outcome. Results Lifetime prevalence estimates of preenlistment suicide ideation, plans, and attempts were 14.1, 2.3, and 1.9%, respectively. Most reported onsets of suicide plans and attempts (73.3–81.5%) occurred within the first year after onset of ideation. Odds of these lifetime suicidal behaviors among new soldiers were positively, but weakly associated with being female, unmarried, religion other than Protestant or Catholic, and a race/ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, or Hispanic. Conclusions Lifetime prevalence estimates of suicidal behaviors among new soldiers are consistent with retrospective reports of preenlistment prevalence obtained from soldiers later in their Army careers. Given that prior suicidal behaviors are among the strongest predictors of later suicides, consideration should be given to developing methods of obtaining valid reports of preenlistment suicidality from new soldiers to facilitate targeting of preventive interventions.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Lifetime Prevalence of Dsm-Iv Mental Disorders Among New Soldiers in the U.S. Army: Results From the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS)
    (Wiley-Blackwell, 2014) Rosellini, Anthony; Heeringa, Steven G.; Stein, Murray B.; Ursano, Robert J.; Chiu, Wai; Colpe, Lisa J.; Fullerton, Carol S.; Gilman, Stephen Edward; Hwang, Irving; Naifeh, James A.; Nock, Matthew; Petukhova, Maria; Sampson, Nancy; Schoenbaum, Michael; Zaslavsky, Alan; Kessler, Ronald
    Background The prevalence of 30-day mental disorders with retrospectively-reported early onsets is significantly higher in the U.S. Army than among socio-demographically matched civilians. This difference could reflect high prevalence of pre-enlistment disorders and/or high persistence of these disorders in the context of the stresses associated with military service. These alternatives can to some extent be distinguished by estimating lifetime disorder prevalence among new Army recruits. Methods The New Soldier Study (NSS) in the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS) used fully-structured measures to estimate lifetime prevalence of 10 DSM-IV disorders in new soldiers reporting for Basic Combat Training in 2011-2012 (n=38,507). Prevalence was compared to estimates from a matched civilian sample. Multivariate regression models examined socio-demographic correlates of disorder prevalence and persistence among new soldiers. Results Lifetime prevalence of having at least one internalizing, externalizing, or either type of disorder did not differ significantly between new soldiers and civilians, although three specific disorders (generalized anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and conduct disorders) and multi-morbidity were significantly more common among new soldiers than civilians. Although several socio-demographic characteristics were significantly associated with disorder prevalence and persistence, these associations were uniformly weak. Conclusions New soldiers differ somewhat, but not consistently, from civilians in lifetime pre-enlistment mental disorders. This suggests that prior findings of higher prevalence of current disorders with pre-enlistment onsets among soldiers than civilians are likely due primarily to a more persistent course of early-onset disorders in the context of the special stresses experienced by Army personnel.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Occupational differences in US Army suicide rates
    (Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2015) Kessler, Ronald; Stein, M. B.; Bliese, P. D.; Bromet, E. J.; Chiu, Wai; Cox, K. L.; Colpe, L. J.; Fullerton, C. S.; Gilman, Stephen Edward; Gruber, Michaela; Heeringa, S. G.; Lewandowski-Romps, L.; Millikan-Bell, A.; Naifeh, J. A.; Nock, Matthew; Petukhova, Maria; Rosellini, Anthony; Sampson, Nancy; Schoenbaum, M.; Zaslavsky, Alan; Ursano, R. J.
    Background Civilian suicide rates vary by occupation in ways related to occupational stress exposure. Comparable military research finds suicide rates elevated in combat arms occupations. However, no research has evaluated variation in this pattern by deployment history, the indicator of occupation stress widely considered responsible for the recent rise in the military suicide rate. Method The joint associations of Army occupation and deployment history in predicting suicides were analysed in an administrative dataset for the 729 337 male enlisted Regular Army soldiers in the US Army between 2004 and 2009. Results There were 496 suicides over the study period (22.4/100 000 person-years). Only two occupational categories, both in combat arms, had significantly elevated suicide rates: infantrymen (37.2/100 000 person-years) and combat engineers (38.2/100 000 person-years). However, the suicide rates in these two categories were significantly lower when currently deployed (30.6/100 000 person-years) than never deployed or previously deployed (41.2–39.1/100 000 person-years), whereas the suicide rate of other soldiers was significantly higher when currently deployed and previously deployed (20.2–22.4/100 000 person-years) than never deployed (14.5/100 000 person-years), resulting in the adjusted suicide rate of infantrymen and combat engineers being most elevated when never deployed [odds ratio (OR) 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1–4.1], less so when previously deployed (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1–2.1), and not at all when currently deployed (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.8–1.8). Adjustment for a differential ‘healthy warrior effect’ cannot explain this variation in the relative suicide rates of never-deployed infantrymen and combat engineers by deployment status. Conclusions Efforts are needed to elucidate the causal mechanisms underlying this interaction to guide preventive interventions for soldiers at high suicide risk.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Cross-national prevalence and risk factors for suicidal ideation, plans and attempts
    (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2008) Nock, Matthew; Borges, G.; Bromet, E. J.; Alonso, Jose; Angermeyer, M.; Beautrais, A.; Bruffaerts, R.; Chiu, Wai; de Girolamo, G.; Gluzman, S.; de Graaf, R.; Gureje, O.; Haro, J. M.; Huang, Y.; Karam, E.; Kessler, Ronald; Lepine, J. P.; Levinson, D.; Medina-Mora, M. E.; Ono, Y.; Posada-Villa, J.; Williams, David
    Background Suicide is a leading cause of death world-wide; however, the prevalence and risk factors for the immediate precursors to suicide: suicidal ideation, plans and attempts, are not well-known, especially in developing countries. Aims To report on the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal behaviors across 17 countries. Method 84,850 adults were interviewed regarding suicidal behaviors and socio-demographic and psychiatric risk factors. Results The cross-national lifetime prevalence (standard error) of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts is 9.2% (0.1), 3.1% (0.1), and 2.7% (0.1). Across all countries, 60% of transitions from ideation to plan and attempt occur within the first year after ideation onset. Consistent cross-national risk factors included being: female, younger, less educated, unmarried, and having a mental disorder. Interestingly, the strongest diagnostic risk factors were mood disorders in developed countries but impulse-control disorders in developing countries. Conclusion Despite cross-national variability in prevalence, there is strong consistency in the characteristics of and risk factors for suicidal behaviors. These findings have significant implications for the prediction and prevention of suicidal behaviors.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Cross-National Analysis of the Associations between Traumatic Events and Suicidal Behavior: Findings from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys
    (Public Library of Science, 2010) Alonso, Jordi; Borges, Guilherme; Bromet, Evelyn; Bruffaerts, Ronny; de Girolamo, Giovanni; Florescu, Silvia; Gureje, Oye; He, Yanling; Kovess-Masfety, Viviane; Levinson, Daphna; Matschinger, Herbert; Mneimneh, Zeina; Nakamura, Yosikazu; Ormel, Johan; Posada-Villa, Jose; Sagar, Rajesh; Scott, Kate M.; Tomov, Toma; Viana, Maria Carmen; Stein, Daniel Brookner; Chiu, Wai; Hwang, Irving; Kessler, Ronald; Sampson, Nancy; Williams, David; Nock, Matthew
    Background Community and clinical data have suggested there is an association between trauma exposure and suicidal behavior (i.e., suicide ideation, plans and attempts). However, few studies have assessed which traumas are uniquely predictive of: the first onset of suicidal behavior, the progression from suicide ideation to plans and attempts, or the persistence of each form of suicidal behavior over time. Moreover, few data are available on such associations in developing countries. The current study addresses each of these issues.Methodology/Principal Findings Data on trauma exposure and subsequent first onset of suicidal behavior were collected via structured interviews conducted in the households of 102,245 (age 18+) respondents from 21 countries participating in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys. Bivariate and multivariate survival models tested the relationship between the type and number of traumatic events and subsequent suicidal behavior. A range of traumatic events are associated with suicidal behavior, with sexual and interpersonal violence consistently showing the strongest effects. There is a dose-response relationship between the number of traumatic events and suicide ideation/attempt; however, there is decay in the strength of the association with more events. Although a range of traumatic events are associated with the onset of suicide ideation, fewer events predict which people with suicide ideation progress to suicide plan and attempt, or the persistence of suicidal behavior over time. Associations generally are consistent across high-, middle-, and low-income countries.Conclusions/Significance This study provides more detailed information than previously available on the relationship between traumatic events and suicidal behavior and indicates that this association is fairly consistent across developed and developing countries. These data reinforce the importance of psychological trauma as a major public health problem, and highlight the significance of screening for the presence and accumulation of traumatic exposures as a risk factor for suicide ideation and attempt.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Improving risk prediction accuracy for new soldiers in the U.S. Army by adding self-report survey data to administrative data
    (BioMed Central, 2018) Bernecker, Samantha; Rosellini, Anthony J.; Nock, Matthew; Chiu, Wai; Gutierrez, Peter M.; Hwang, Irving; Joiner, Thomas E.; Naifeh, James A.; Sampson, Nancy; Zaslavsky, Alan; Stein, Murray B.; Ursano, Robert J.; Kessler, Ronald
    Background: High rates of mental disorders, suicidality, and interpersonal violence early in the military career have raised interest in implementing preventive interventions with high-risk new enlistees. The Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (STARRS) developed risk-targeting systems for these outcomes based on machine learning methods using administrative data predictors. However, administrative data omit many risk factors, raising the question whether risk targeting could be improved by adding self-report survey data to prediction models. If so, the Army may gain from routinely administering surveys that assess additional risk factors. Methods: The STARRS New Soldier Survey was administered to 21,790 Regular Army soldiers who agreed to have survey data linked to administrative records. As reported previously, machine learning models using administrative data as predictors found that small proportions of high-risk soldiers accounted for high proportions of negative outcomes. Other machine learning models using self-report survey data as predictors were developed previously for three of these outcomes: major physical violence and sexual violence perpetration among men and sexual violence victimization among women. Here we examined the extent to which this survey information increases prediction accuracy, over models based solely on administrative data, for those three outcomes. We used discrete-time survival analysis to estimate a series of models predicting first occurrence, assessing how model fit improved and concentration of risk increased when adding the predicted risk score based on survey data to the predicted risk score based on administrative data. Results: The addition of survey data improved prediction significantly for all outcomes. In the most extreme case, the percentage of reported sexual violence victimization among the 5% of female soldiers with highest predicted risk increased from 17.5% using only administrative predictors to 29.4% adding survey predictors, a 67.9% proportional increase in prediction accuracy. Other proportional increases in concentration of risk ranged from 4.8% to 49.5% (median = 26.0%). Conclusions: Data from an ongoing New Soldier Survey could substantially improve accuracy of risk models compared to models based exclusively on administrative predictors. Depending upon the characteristics of interventions used, the increase in targeting accuracy from survey data might offset survey administration costs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12888-018-1656-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.