Reducing Self-Dehumanization to Examine Oxytocin and Suicide Risk

The goal of this experiment is to further determine if self-dehumanization is a novel risk factor for suicide. This study will reduce self-dehumanization using a novel re-humanization condition and compare this group to a control group to analyze the pathway between higher perceptions of self-dehumanization, suicidal ideation, and changes in oxytocin concentrations. It is hypothesized that participants randomly assigned to the re-humanized condition will exhibit decreases in suicidal ideation and increases in oxytocin concentrations as compared to the control condition, which will not display significant changes. Further, we will explore if the magnitude of the oxytocin response will partially mediate the change in suicidal ideation.

Inclusion Criteria: * Between the ages of 18 and 40 * Biological females will be screened to ensure that they have a regular menstrual cycle with a length of 26-30 days and will be scheduled according to their cycle (see Research Strategy for details). * At least a moderate level of self-dehumanization (i.e., a sum score of 12 or greater out of a possible score of 28) and current suicidal ideation Exclusion Criteria: * Participation in the Self-Dehumanized Study by this study team * A phobia of needles (i.e., trypanophobia) * Any medical conditions precluding them from engaging in a 10-hour fast (consumption of water is allowed and encouraged) * Life-threatening suicide risk which would result in taking appropriate steps to ensure safety of the individual (e.g., hospitalization) A psychosis-related diagnosis