Dynamic change patterns in suicidal ideation differ in Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) and Present-Centered Therapy (PCT).
Craig J Bryan, Jeffrey V Tabares, Lauren R Khazem et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized clinical trial examined how five dimensions of suicidal ideation changed during Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) versus Present-Centered Therapy (PCT) among high-risk U.S. military personnel and veterans. Participants completed the first five items of the Scale for Suicidal Ideation at scheduled therapy sessions; researchers modelled the timing and coordination of change. In both treatments, some dimensions changed faster than others. Changes across dimensions were faster and more synchronous with BCBT than with PCT, despite similar overall efficacy for reducing ideation severity.
Key findings
- Across both treatments, change varied by dimension: some aspects of suicidal ideation shifted quickly, while others changed more slowly.
- Suicidal-ideation dimensions changed faster and in greater synchrony during BCBT than during PCT.
- The treatments had similar efficacy for reducing overall suicidal-ideation severity, although their patterns of change differed.
Why it matters
Overall severity scores can conceal differences in how suicidal ideation changes during therapy. These findings suggest that examining individual dimensions and their timing may provide a fuller account of therapeutic change than mean-level scores alone. Such approaches may help researchers investigate treatment processes, while the study does not establish that the observed change patterns explain differences in suicide-attempt prevention.
What to keep in mind
The analysis concerns change patterns in five ideation items and does not establish that these patterns cause differences in clinical outcomes.