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Does cognitive behavioural therapy have a role in improving problem solving and coping in adolescents with suicidal ideation?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2014

Sarah Hetrick ,
Hok Pan Yuen ,
Georgina Cox ,
Sarah Bendall ,
Alison Yung ,
Jane Pirkis  and
Jo Robinson
Sarah Hetrick*
Affiliation:
Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Hok Pan Yuen
Affiliation:
Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Georgina Cox
Affiliation:
Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Sarah Bendall
Affiliation:
Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Alison Yung
Affiliation:
Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia Centre for Psychosis and Mood Disorders, Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Jane Pirkis
Affiliation:
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Jo Robinson
Affiliation:
Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
*
*Author for correspondence: Dr S. Hetrick, Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne Locked Bag 10, Parkville, Vic 3052, Australia (email: shetrick@unimelb.edu.au)
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Abstract

Problem-solving and coping skills deficits have been shown in adolescents who experience suicide-related behaviours, including suicidal ideation. Little evidence exists about effective interventions for this population. We undertook a pilot study of an Internet-based CBT programme that included problem-solving skills training to investigate its impact on skills deficits. The study employed a pre-test/post-test design. Outcomes of interest were negative problem orientation, emotion- and task-focused coping, and adolescents’ perception of helpfulness of the intervention. Participants, recruited via the school wellbeing team, were assessed at baseline, at weekly intervention sessions and immediately post-intervention. Twenty-one adolescents completed the intervention. Over the course of the intervention, negative problem-solving orientation improved and students relied less on emotion-focused coping strategies. Because there was no control group, we cannot be certain that the changes seen between baseline and post-intervention can be attributed to the intervention. Adolescents rated the problem-solving and cognitive restructuring modules as particularly helpful. Interventions that include enhancement of problem-solving skills, as well as cognitive restructuring to address adolescents’ appraisal of problems and their ability to solve them appear promising for adolescents with suicidal ideation. Further investigation is warranted.

Keywords

Adolescentscognitive behavioural therapyInternetsuicidal ideation
Type
Original Research
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 7 , December 2014 , e13
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2014 

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References

Recommended follow-up reading

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