Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescents With Alchohol use Disorders During Treatment and Aftercare

This study assessed the magnitude & course of suicide ideation during outpatient treatment & aftercare for adolescents with alcohol use disorders. 177 adolescents participated in 9 weeks of outpatient cognitive-behavioural group therapy. Treatment completers were randomized into no-active, in-person, or telephone aftercare conditions for a period of 12 weeks. No specific intervention for suicidal behaviour was provided during the study. A higher baseline suicide ideation was associated with higher retention at the end of treatment & through aftercare. The in-person aftercare condition showed a significant decrease in suicide ideation, relative to the no-active aftercare condition. There was a trend for similarly reduced severity of suicide ideation in the telephone aftercare condition. (24 refs.)