Telehealth Shows Promise in Reducing Suicide Attempts

TOPLINE:
Brief cognitive behavioral therapy (BCBT) even when delivered remotely via video telehealth effectively reduces suicide attempts among high-risk adults. 
METHODOLOGY:
The researchers conducted a randomized clinical trial to compare BCBT and present-centered therapy (PCT) for prevention of suicide among participants receiving care at an outpatient psychiatry and behavioral health clinic in the United States from April 2021 to September 2023.
A total of 96 adults (mean age, 31.8 years; 66.7% women) were randomly assigned to receive either BCBT, which teaches skills for emotion regulation and reappraisal (n = 51), or PCT, which assists participants in increasing adaptive responses to stressors (n = 45).
Therapy sessions were conducted remotely via telehealth, including an intake session and 12 weekly outpatient individual sessions, with follow-up assessments at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.
The primary outcome was the number of suicide attempts, assessed using the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview — Revised, a validated self-report instrument.
The secondary outcome was the severity of suicidal ideation, assessed using the Scale for Suicide Ideation, a psychometrically validated self-report tool.
TAKEAWAY:
During the 1-year follow-up, participants receiving BCBT made fewer suicide attempts (mean attempts per participant, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.49-1.00) than those receiving PCT (mean attempts per participant, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.07-1.84).
Participants receiving BCBT had a 41% reduced risk for suicide attempts compared with those receiving PCT (hazard ratio, 0.59; P = .03).
Both therapy groups experienced significant reductions in the severity of suicidal ideation (P < .001), with no significant difference between the groups.
IN PRACTICE:
“The present results provide further support for the effectiveness of BCBT for preventing suicide attempts among adults with elevated risk for suicide and indicate the treatment’s effect on reducing suicide attempts is preserved when delivered remotely via video-based telehealth,” the authors wrote.
SOURCE:
The study was led by Justin C. Baker, PhD, ABPP, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio. It was published online on November 12, 2024, in JAMA Network Open.
LIMITATIONS:
The study had a relatively small sample size and focused on participants from urban and suburban areas with reliable internet access, possibly limiting the generalizability of the findings. The use of self-reported data may have led to undercounting of suicide attempts, especially among those who did not complete follow-up assessments. Treatment differences may have influenced participants’ willingness to report suicide attempts. The study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, possibly affecting the applicability of the findings in a post-pandemic context.
DISCLOSURES:
The study was supported in part by a charitable gift from 33 Forever. Some authors reported receiving personal fees and grants outside the submitted work. One author also disclosed receiving royalties for patents held.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
 
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