Moral injury, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and suicidal ideation in post-9/11 US combat veterans.

Background: Moral injury - the psychological harm resulting from acts of wrongdoing or betrayals - correlates with negative psychosocial outcomes, including increased suicide risk. The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS) suggests that perceived burdensomeness (the belief that one is a burden to others), and thwarted belongingness (psychological pain from unmet social connectedness) confer risk of suicidal ideation. Objective: The current study evaluates the degree to which perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness mediates the associations of acts of wrongdoing and betrayal with c