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Preliminary Effectiveness of Adjunct Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to Prevent Suicidal Behavior in Outpatients Who Are at Elevated Suicide Risk

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Abstract

Suicidal behavior is an important public health problem. A few efficacious treatments to prevent suicidal behavior exist. The feasibility and broad applicability of these interventions to suicidal individuals are, however, limited. We thus developed a novel, nine-session protocol combining mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) specifically tailored to address suicide-related concerns with the Safety Planning Intervention, a brief intervention focused on developing individual suicide crisis coping skills. Here, we report on the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and preliminary effectiveness of the intervention, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to prevent suicidal behavior (MBCT-S). Eighteen high suicide risk psychiatric outpatients in treatment were enrolled and assessed for suicidal ideation, depression, and hopelessness using well-validated clinician-administered or self-report instruments. All participants received adjunct MBCT-S. Assessments were repeated at MBCT-S termination. To measure feasibility, acceptability, and safety, we calculated enrollment, drop out, and treatment completion rates. We also summarized satisfaction rating scale data, counted adverse events, and examined qualitative data. We found significant reductions in suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms, but not hopelessness, with MBCT-S treatment. The treatment was also feasible, acceptable, and safe for participants. Directions for future study of MBCT-S are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by Grant PDF-0-076-11 awarded to M. Chesin from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

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The authors report no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Megan S. Chesin, Beth S. Brodsky & Barbara Stanley

  2. Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA

    Cemile C. Sonmez, Christopher A. Benjamin-Phillips & Brandon Beeler

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  1. Megan S. Chesin
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  2. Cemile C. Sonmez
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  3. Christopher A. Benjamin-Phillips
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  4. Brandon Beeler
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  5. Beth S. Brodsky
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  6. Barbara Stanley
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Correspondence to Megan S. Chesin.

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Chesin, M.S., Sonmez, C.C., Benjamin-Phillips, C.A. et al. Preliminary Effectiveness of Adjunct Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to Prevent Suicidal Behavior in Outpatients Who Are at Elevated Suicide Risk. Mindfulness 6, 1345–1355 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-015-0405-8

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