Recent su icide attempters treated with cognitive therapy were 50 percent less likely to try to k ill themselves again within 18 months than those who did not receive the therapy, report researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health?s (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A targeted form of cognitive therapy designed to prevent su icide proved better at lifting depression and feelings of hopelessness than the usual care available in the community, according to Gregory Brown, Ph.D., Aaron Beck, M.D., University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues, who published their findings in the August 3, 2005 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
“Since even one previous attempt multiplies suicide risk by 38-40 times and suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for adults under 65, a proven way to prevent repeat attempts has important public health implications,” said NIMH Director Thomas Insel, M.D.