Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicidal Attempt

Background and Objective: Due to the increasing focus of new therapies on immediate and short-term interventions, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been designed to decrease suicidality risk in suicidal patients. This study aimed to evaluate the CBT efficacy for suicide prevention in patients with suicidal attempts.Methods: The present study was a semi-experimental type of pre-test and post-test study, in which ۶۰ participants were included in the study to evaluate the risk of suicide using the Columbia Suicide Severity Risk Scale between April and June ۲۰۲۳. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Suicide ideation was measured using the Beck Scale before, after ۱ month, and after the intervention. Data were analysed using a t-test to compare changes in suicide ideation between the Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and control groups.Results: This study included ۶۰ cases, with ۱۶ males and ۴۴ females. Among the suicidal group (n=۲۸), the mean age was ۲۵.۳ ± ۶.۲ years, ۲۳ (۸۲.۱%) were female, and ۱۴ (۵۰%) had a university degree. The most common suicide methods were stabbing (n=۱۲, ۴۲.۹%), self-burning (n=۱۱, ۳۹.۳%), and jumping from height (n=۸, ۲۸.۶%). The cognitive behavioural therapy intervention significantly reduced suicidal ideation from pre-test to post-test ۲ (p<۰.۰۰۱), while the comparison group showed no significant change from pre-test to post-test ۱ (p=۰.۳۴۴). The intervention group had a significant reduction in suicidal ideation between pre-test and post-test۲ (p<۰.۰۰۱), whereas the comparison group only showed a significant reduction between post-test۱ and post-test۲ (p=۰.۰۱۳). Conclusion: The most commonly used methods of suicide were stabbing, self-burning, and jumping from a height. There was a highly significant association between cognitive behavioural therapy and reducing the risk of suicide attempts.

Keywords:

mental health , psychotherapy , risk factors , suicidal ideation