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Military suicide attempts decreased 60% with brief cognitive behavioral therapy
Brief cognitive behavioral therapy reduced suicide attempts among military personnel by 60%, according to data published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
“The significant increase in military suicides over the past decade is a national tragedy,” Alan Peterson, PhD, professor of psychiatry in the School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio and director of the military-focused STRONG STAR Consortium, said in a press release. “The Department of Defense has responded by investing significant resources into military suicide research, and the findings from this study may be the most important and most hopeful to date. To see a 60% reduction in suicide attempts among at-risk active-duty soldiers after a brief intervention is truly exciting.”
Alan Peterson
Active-duty Army soldiers who attempted suicide or reported suicidal ideation were randomly assigned to usual care (n = 76) or usual care plus 12 sessions of outpatient cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT; n = 76).
Two-year follow-up data indicated eight patients in brief CBT (13.8%) and 18 in usual care (40.2%) made at least one suicide attempt (HR = 0.38; 95% CI, 0.16-0.87), the researchers wrote. There was also a slight decrease in the likelihood of medical retirement among those who were administered CBT, compared with those assigned to usual care.
“We’re very pleased with the very positive results of this clinical trial, particularly that we’ve been able to develop and implement a treatment that helps improve the lives of our soldiers,” M. David Rudd, PhD, president of the University of Memphis, said in the press release. – by Samantha Costa
Disclosure: Bryan, Mintz, Rudd, Peterson, and Young-McCaughan have received grant support from the Department of Defense. Bryan has also received grant support from the Department of the Air Force. All other researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.