Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents at High Risk for SuicideA Randomized Clinical Trial
McCauley E, Berk MS, Asarnow JR, et al. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online June 20, 2018. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.1109
This multisite randomised controlled trial including 173 highly suicidal predominantly female adolescents found that Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was better than individual or group supportive therapy for reducing the frequency of recurrent suicide attempts in the short term. Differences between treatment and control interventions were less apparent by 6 months and less sessions of supportive therapy were needed to achieve the same effect. However, as the highest risk period for recurrent suicide attempts is within the first few months following an index suicide attempt, this does not detract from the likely value of DBT for this group of young people.