Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicidal Attempt

Background and Objective: Due to the increasing focus of new therapies on immediate and short-term interventions, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been designed to decrease suicidality risk in suicidal patients. This study aimed to evaluate the CBT efficacy for suicide prevention in patients with suicidal attempts. Methods: The present study was a semi-experimental type of pre-test and post-test study, in which 60 participants were included in the study to evaluate the risk of suicide using the Columbia Suicide Severity Risk Scale between April and June 2023. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Suicide ideation was measured using the Beck Scale before, after 1 month, and after the intervention. Data were analysed using a t-test to compare changes in suicide ideation between the Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and control groups. Results: This study included 60 cases, with 16 males and 44 females. Among the suicidal group (n=28), the mean age was 25.3 ± 6.2 years, 23 (82.1%) were female, and 14 (50%) had a university degree. The most common suicide methods were stabbing (n=12, 42.9%), self-burning (n=11, 39.3%), and jumping from height (n=8, 28.6%). The cognitive behavioural therapy intervention significantly reduced suicidal ideation from pre-test to post-test 2 (p< 0.001), while the comparison group showed no significant change from pre-test to post-test 1 (p=0.344). The intervention group had a significant reduction in suicidal ideation between pre-test and post-test2 (p< 0.001), whereas the comparison group only showed a significant reduction between post-test1 and post-test2 (p=0.013).  Conclusion: The most commonly used methods of suicide were stabbing, self-burning, and jumping from a height. There was a highly significant association between cognitive behavioural therapy and reducing the risk of suicide attempts.