Abstract
BackgroundTreatment recommendations suggest that suicidal ideation will decrease following successful psychotherapy for depression. However, findings from the empirical research are equivocal in this regard. It is possible suicidal ideation does not respond to empirically supported treatment (EST) for depression or that suicidal ideation limits the efficacy of ESTs for depression.MethodsData from 793 patients who sought EST for depression was analyzed using t-tests and multiple linear regression.ResultsBoth patients with (n = 233) or without suicidal ideation (n = 560) were significantly less depressed following treatment. A significant reduction in suicidal ideation was also observed. At baseline, 233 (29.4%) patients reported suicidal ideation, whereas only 90 (11.3%) patients reported suicidal ideation at follow-up. The relationship between suicidal ideation at baseline and depression scores at follow-up was not significant.ConclusionsPatients with suicidal ideation who receive short-term EST can experience significant reductions in both depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Findings suggest that suicidal ideation at baseline does not impact treatment efficacy, but additional research that directly tests moderation is needed.
Highlights
Treatment recommendations suggest that suicidal ideation will decrease following successful psychotherapy for depression
empirically supported treatment (EST) are defined as behavioral health interventions that have been rigorously tested in randomized controlled trials or a series of well-designed single subject experiments and have demonstrated efficacy when compared to a control or active treatment condition [4, 5]
Treatment guidelines for patients with depression and suicidal ideation suggest that ESTs aimed at reducing depressive symptomatology will reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors [7], there is little empirical research supporting this assumption [8]
Summary
Treatment recommendations suggest that suicidal ideation will decrease following successful psychotherapy for depression. Findings from the empirical research are equivocal in this regard It is possible suicidal ideation does not respond to empirically supported treatment (EST) for depression or that suicidal ideation limits the efficacy of ESTs for depression. Results: Both patients with (n = 233) or without suicidal ideation (n = 560) were significantly less depressed following treatment. The relationship between suicidal ideation at baseline and depression scores at follow-up was not significant. Despite the overlap between depression and suicidal ideation, there are no recognized short-term empirically supported treatments (ESTs) for managing suicidal ideation in the context of depression. Treatment guidelines for patients with depression and suicidal ideation suggest that ESTs aimed at reducing depressive symptomatology will reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors [7], there is little empirical research supporting this assumption [8]
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