Integrated Suicide & Trauma Therapy for Suicide Risk

In the last 10 years, despite available treatments, suicide rates have not significantly decreased, and individuals who have experienced any type of childhood maltreatment are at increased odds for suicide attempt. Effective suicide prevention requires learning skills to cope with suicidality in addition to addressing the antecedent factors that contribute to suicide risk. In the context of those with childhood trauma and suicidality, addressing antecedent factors may require treatments that target symptoms associated with developmental trauma. Thus, the investigators have developed an integrated suicide intervention, Integrated Suicide and Trauma Therapy (ISTT). ISTT combines Brief-Skills for Safer Living (Brief-SfSL)-a promising method to enhance coping skills and reduce suicidality-with a trauma therapy component to alleviate the specific impacts of childhood trauma on suicide risk. The aim of this pilot is to test 12-weeks of BSTT to alleviate suicide risk among individuals with a history of childhood trauma and current suicidality.

Inclusion criteria

• Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation > 10
• Presence of childhood trauma defined by a minimum moderate score on any of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire subscales (emotional abuse, physical, abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect
• Presence of any psychiatric diagnosis
• Ability to provide informed consent
• Not receiving other psychotherapy concurrently
• Ability to undergo psychotherapy in English

Exclusion criteria

• The presence of cognitive impairment that would limit consent or understanding of ISTT
• The presence of active psychosis
• Unwilling or unable to provide informed consent