[Psychotherapy after a suicide attempt-current evidence and evaluation]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Suicide attempts are a significant risk factor for completed suicide.
• Numerous psychotherapeutic interventions have been developed for individuals post-suicide attempt.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the efficacy of psychotherapeutic treatments for individuals who have attempted suicide.
• To present examples of effective suicide-focused psychotherapies.
• To critically evaluate the current research landscape and knowledge gaps.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of two recent Cochrane reviews on psychotherapy for self-injurious behavior.
• Inclusion of findings from 14 meta-analyses on psychological suicide prevention (past five years).

Main Results:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) demonstrated effectiveness.
• Average effect sizes for interventions were generally small.
• Methodological limitations hinder definitive conclusions.

Conclusions:

• Suicide-specific psychotherapy is crucial for individualized prevention efforts.
• The empirical evidence base and widespread implementation of these therapies remain insufficient.