Our analyses also add to the growing literature on the importance of prior history of suicidal behaviors in predicting subsequent suicide attempts.27, 28, 59 The current study extends earlier work on this topic by differentiating two processes involved in the transition from suicidal thoughts to attempts. In line with prior findings, a history of prior suicide attempt was found to be strongly predictive of 12-month suicide attempts.28, 34, 60 Our analysis adds to prior research by showing specificity in this process, though, such that a history of unplanned (impulsive) suicide attempts predicts subsequent unplanned attempts (but not planned ones), while a history of planned attempts predicts subsequent planned attempts (but not unplanned ones). This is an important specification for clinicians working with potentially suicidal patients, especially patients with a history of unplanned suicide attempts.
