Cognitive-Behavioural Problem Solving in the Treatment of Patients who Repeatedly Attempt Suicide – a Controlled Trial

In a controlled trial, 20 patients at high risk of repeated suicide attempts were randomly allocated to either cognitive-behavioural problem solving or a “treatment-as-usual” control condition. The group practising problem solving improved significantly more than controls on ratings of depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation & target problems at the end of treatment & at follow-up of up to 1 year, & there was evidence of an effect on the rates of repetition over the 6 months after treatment.