Intervention related reductions in perceived burdensomeness mediates incidence of suicidal thoughts

Interventions aimed at preventing suicidal thoughts target people at risk for suicide based on risk factor elevations. Based on the interpersonal psychological theory of suicide, elevated perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB) are potential targets for prevention of the occurrence of suicidal thoughts. PB is the belief that one is a burden to others. TB is the perceived lack of social connectedness.

This study was designed to examine the effects of a preventative intervention targeting PB and TB on the 6-month incidence of suicide ideation in a sample of 138 people (M = 38.01 years, SD = 16.40; 50.7% female) with elevated levels of these variables but no current suicidal thoughts at baseline. The three-session intervention included psychoeducation and cognitive bias modification.

PB was reduced in the intervention condition, compared to the repeated contact control condition (B = 2.50, p < .05) and TB was not (B = 1.42, p = .43). The likelihood of a reported incident of suicidal thoughts was reduced for those in the active intervention compared to those in the repeated contact control condition, through reductions in PB (B = .12, 95% confidence interval [.01, .32]).

There were two components of the intervention, cognitive bias modification and psychoeducation; thus, it is unclear whether one or both components contributed to these findings.

This intervention can be used as a preventative intervention for suicidal thoughts by targeting PB. These results further confirm PB as a causal risk factor for suicidal thoughts.