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Symposia

Suicide and Self-Injury

Suicide Prevention in Historically Underrepresented Groups: From Mechanisms to Implementation

2 - (SYM 114) Preliminary Findings from a Pilot Trial Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention for the Disability Community

Sunday, November 17, 2024
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM EST
Location: Grand Ballroom F, Level 5, Downtown Marriott
Abstract Body



Background: The disability community experiences heighted suicide rates when compared to the general population, however the effectiveness of any suicide prevention intervention remains unknown in this population with significant access barriers to retreatment. Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (BCBT) is an efficacious,12-session psychotherapy that focuses on increasing emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving skills when administered in-person and through telehealth.





Method: In this ongoing pilot trial of BCBT and the first trial of any suicide prevention intervention within the disability community, 60 adults with vision, hearing, or mobility disabilities and current suicidal ideation/past-month suicide attempt complete a baseline assessment and are administered a disability-affirming adaptation of BCBT protocol through telehealth and complete self-report questionnaires assessing suicide ideation intensity (every session), suicide-related cognitions, and perceived burdensomeness (halfway through treatment and at treatment completion). A series of hierarchical mixed models were conducted to examine whether these outcomes significantly decreased throughout treatment.





Results: Preliminary data from 34 participants demonstrates significant decreases in mean suicide ideation scores through Session 12 (p=.001). Mean suicide cognitions scores significantly decreased from baseline to Session 5 (p=.03) and until Treatment Completion (p=.04). Mean perceived burdensomeness scores significantly decreased from baseline until Session 5 (p=.01) and a non-significant 1.12 points by Treatment Completion.





Conclusion: While updated statistics and interpretations will be presented, current findings indicate promise for the first disability-affirming, telehealth-administered iteration of BCBT in reducing suicidal ideation and related cognitions for people with various disabilities at risk of suicide.