Family-based cognitive-behavioral treatments for suicidal adolescents and their integration with individual treatment

A considerable research base underscores the importance of family functioning in the risk for and treatment of adolescent suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This paper reviews the extant empirical literature documenting associations between features of the family context and adolescent suicidal thoughts and behaviors. A case example is provided to illustrate how family factors may guide case conceptualization and treatment planning for suicidal adolescents. In light of the growing support for treatment approaches predicated on the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), the paper focuses on many of the common family treatment elements, notably interventions with parents across treatment studies with adolescent suicidal populations. A specific treatment known as CBT for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP; Stanley et al., 2009) serves as an exemplar for how interventions with parents may be applied in the context of an integrated intervention for teen suicide. The paper reviews issues salient to the implementation of key components of treatment with parents and addresses specific treatment considerations and challenges.