Addressing co ‐occurring suicidal thoughts and behaviors and posttraumatic stress disorder in evidence‐based psychotherapies for adults: A systematic review

AbstractPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a well-established risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Historically, guidelines for treating PTSD have recommended against the use of trauma-focused therapies for patients who are at high risk for suicide, likely due to concerns about potential suicide-related iatrogenesis, specifically the “triggering” of suicidal behaviors. This systematic review examined evidence of the impact of treatments specifically designed to treat PTSD or suicide on both PTSD- and suicide-related outcomes. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were foll owed, and a total of 33 articles met the full inclusion criteria: 23 examining PTSD treatments, four examining suicide-focused treatments, and six examining combined treatments. PTSD and combined treatments reduced both PTSD- and suicide-related outcomes, with most studies focusing on cognitive proc essing therapy or prolonged exposure. Suicide-focused treatments (e.g., cognitive therapies for suicide prevention) also reduced suicide-related outcomes, but the findings were mixed for their impact on PTSD-related outcomes. Overall, PTSD treatments had the most support, primarily due to a larger n umber of studies examining their outcomes. This supports current clinical guidelines, which suggest utilizing PTSD treatments for individuals who have PTSD and are at risk for suicide. Suicide-focused and combined treatments also appeared to be...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research