A cognitive-behavioral suicide prevention treatment for adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in community mental health: preliminary findings of an open pilot study

ABSTRACT

Suicide is a leading cause of death among schizophrenia spectrum disorder populations. This open pilot study examined a modified cognitive-behavioral suicide prevention treatment for clients in community mental health. Providers (n = 5) were trained to deliver the treatment and clients (n = 5) received it in 10 individual therapy sessions. Clients experienced improvements in suicide ideation, depression, hopelessness, general symptoms of psychosis, entrapment, defeat, approaches to coping, psychological stress, impulsivity, and the number of treatment barriers from baseline to post-treatment. Qualitative findings reinforced quantitative results of client improvements and provided important suggestions to strengthen the intervention and its delivery in community mental health.

KEYWORDS:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• community mental health
• psychosis
• social work providers
• suicide

Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was obtained through NIMH R34MH123609 (PI: Bornheimer). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Mental Health or the National Institutes of Health.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no potential conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health [R34MH123609]