The Immediate Effects of Cognitive Versus Affective Interviews: A Study of Suicide Attempters (Micro HV 6545 G635 1984).

The purpose of this research was to compare the effects of brief psychotherapy, using either a cognitive or affective approach. 48 suicidal hospital patients were split into cognitive, affective, & control groups. Self-reports prior to therapy & immediately after indicated an immediate reduction within the cognitive group of depressive syptomatology, hopelessness, & anger. This is consistent with Beck’s theory that modifying the thinking of a suicidal person alleviates hopelessness & depression.