Impact of Transdiagnostic Brief Behavioral Therapy on Suicide Reduction for Depressed Hispanic/Latine Youth

Identifying effective interventions for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) among Hispanic/Latine youth is a public health priority. Anxiety and depression often precede STBs, and non-suicide-specific treatments for internalizing problems may mitigate the development of serious suicidality. Transdiagnostic therapy for anxiety and depression has shown strong outcomes for Hispanic/Latine youth and some evidence of non-targeted effects on STBs. However, it remains unclear whether transdiagnostic treatments impact STBs in high-risk subgroups, such as depressed, Hispanic/Latine youth. The current study explored whether Hispanic/Latine ethnicity and depression moderated intervention-driven changes in suicidality within a transdiagnostic therapy for pediatric anxiety and depression.

Archival data were analyzed from the Brief Behavioral Therapy (BBT) trial for this hypothesis-generating study. Youths aged 8.0 to 16.9 were randomly assigned to receive BBT or assisted referrals to community care (ARC). Parent- and youth-reported suicidality was assessed at baseline and post-treatment (week 16). Multiple regression models were estimated in a subset of youth (n = 163) to test if ethnicity (Non-Hispanic White [NHW], Hispanic/Latine) and clinically significant depression moderated the impact of BBT on suicidality.

Results indicated a significant three-way interaction between ethnicity, depression, and treatment, with significantly greater reduction in suicidality for depressed, Hispanic/Latine youth in BBT relative to community care by week 16.

Findings demonstrate the promise of transdiagnostic interventions for reducing suicidality among depressed, Hispanic/Latine youth, a population that experiences elevated risk for STBs compared to NHW counterparts. Confirmatory trials are needed to test whether transdiagnostic treatment accrues specific benefits for suicidality for this vulnerable group.