Variability in suicidal ideation during treatment for individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis: The importance of repeated assessment.

Abstract

Suicide risk is elevated among individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P). The current study examined variability in suicidal ideation during treatment for individuals at CHR-P. A retrospective chart review was used to examine the course of suicidal ideation during 16 sessions of individual psychotherapy for 25 individuals at CHR-P. Suicidal ideation was reported by 24% of participants at session 1 and 16% at session 16, with minimal within-subject change in the presence of suicidal ideation across the two time points. However, a more fine-grained investigation at each session indicated that 60% of individuals at CHR-P experienced suicidal ideation at least once during treatment. Additionally, there was great variability in suicidal ideation both within and between participants over the course of the 16 sessions. These findings highlight the importance of repeated assessment when examining suicidal ideation as a treatment outcome for individuals at CHR-P.