Thomas Joiner
check Recruiting a graduate student for Fall of 2025
Education
University of Texas, Austin, 1993
Research Interests
The Laboratory for the Study and Prevention of Suicide-Related Conditions and Behaviors at Florida State University focuses primarily on the study of the nature, causes, and management of suicidal behavior and related disorders (e.g., eating disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders). The goal of our research is to further refine and empirically test the interpersonal theory of suicide, as well as understand and prevent suicidal behavior in military and other settings.
Current Research
Further refinement and empirical tests of the interpersonal theory of suicidal behavior; understanding and preventing suicidal behavior across multiple setting, including military and first-responders. Dr. Joiner and lab members have projects examining lethal means and means safety/restriction; acute suicidal affective disturbance (ASAD); and suicide rates across occupations. Interested students are encouraged to read lab member research interests on the lab website for an idea of current lab research directions.
Lab Description
Interpersonal, cognitive, and neurobiological causes, correlates, and consequences of depression and related disorders; additional focus on the nature and treatment of suicidal ideation and behavior.
Selected Publications
Buchman-Schmitt, J. M., Chu, C., Michaels, M. S., Hames, J. L., Silva, C., Hagan, C. R., ... & Joiner Jr, T. E. (2017). The role of stressful life events preceding death by suicide: Evidence from two samples of suicide decedents. Psychiatry research, 256, 345-352.
Chu, C., Buchman, J., & Joiner, T. (2017). Personality disorder symptoms and suicidality: Low desire and high plans for suicide in military inpatients and outpatients. Journal of Personality Disorders.
Joiner, T. E., Buchman‐Schmitt, J. M., & Chu, C. (2017). Do undiagnosed suicide decedents have symptoms of a mental disorder?. Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Rogers, M. L., Galynker, I., Yaseen, Z., DeFazio, K., & Joiner, T. E. (2017). An Overview and Comparison of Two Proposed Suicide-Specific Diagnoses: Acute Suicidal Affective Disturbance and Suicide Crisis Syndrome. Psychiatric Annals, 47(8), 416-420.
Rogers, M. L., & Joiner, T. E. (2017). Severity of Suicidal Ideation Matters: Reexamining Correlates of Suicidal Ideation Using Quantile Regression. Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Rogers, M. L., & Joiner, T. E. (2017). Rumination, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts: A meta-analytic review.
Rogers, M. L., Schneider, M. E., Tucker, R. P., Law, K. C., Anestis, M. D., & Joiner, T. E. (2017). Overarousal as a mechanism of the relation between rumination and suicidality. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 92, 31-37.
Stanley, I. H., Hom, M. A., Luby, J. L., Joshi, P. T., Wagner, K. D., Emslie, G. J., ... & Joiner, T. E. (2017). Comorbid sleep disorders and suicide risk among children and adolescents with bipolar disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 95, 54-59.
Stanley, I. H., Hom, M. A., Spencer-Thomas, S., & Joiner, T. E. (2017). Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Women Firefighters: An Examination of Associated Features and Comparison of Pre-Career and Career Prevalence Rates. Journal of Affective Disorders.
Anestis, J., Anestis, M., Rufino, K., Cramer, R., Miller, H., Khazem, L., & Joiner, T. (2016). Understanding the relationship between suicidality and psychopathy: An examination of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior. Archives of Suicide Research.
Chu, C., Buchman, J., Moberg, F., & Joiner, T. (2016). Thwarted belongingness mediates the relationship between fear of negative evaluation and suicidal ideation. Cognitive Therapy & Research, 40, 31-37.
BOOKS
Joiner, T. (2017). Mindlessness: The Corruption of Mindfulness in a Culture of Narcissism. Oxford University Press.
Joiner, T. (2014). The perversion of virtue: Understanding murder-suicide. New York: Oxford.
Undergraduate Research
Explore the Directed Individual Study (DIS) opportunities below or learn more.