Michele Berk, PhD

Abstract

Reducing deaths by suicide in youth is an urgent public health goal and effective treatment approaches remain limited. This editorial reviews new research published in this issue of Child and Adolescent Mental health that may inform youth suicide prevention efforts, including an open trial of a new, family-focused group intervention for youth with suicidal ideation and findings showing that life problems associated with presentation to the emergency department for self-harm vary by age and gender. The need for multi-component treatments that have the flexibility to target a range of life problems/risk factors and to include families in treatment is discussed, along with the need to find a way to make such interventions scalable. Finally, this editorial addresses this issue's debate by discussing the role of mindfulness in dialectical behavior therapy for suicidal youth and the need to carefully monitor and further examine the effectiveness and safety of mindfulness with this patient population.

View details for DOI 10.1111/camh.12604

View details for PubMedID 36250453

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of Safe Alternatives for Teens and Youths-Acute (SAFETY-A), a brief strengths-based, cognitive-behavioral family intervention, on racial-ethnic minority youths receiving emergency department (ED) treatment for suicidal episodes.METHODS: Participants were 105 racial-ethnic minority youths enrolled in a randomized controlled trial evaluating SAFETY-A versus enhanced usual care for youths receiving ED treatment for suicidal episodes. Analyses examined group effects on care linkage after discharge and adequate treatment dose. A sample of 55 White youths was included for comparison.RESULTS: Racial-ethnic minority youths who received SAFETY-A had higher treatment linkage rates than those receiving usual care. Adequate treatment dose rates did not differ by group.CONCLUSIONS: Racial-ethnic minority youths receiving SAFETY-A had higher treatment linkage rates after discharge than those receiving usual care. SAFETY-A is a promising approach to enhance care continuity and mental health equity for racial-ethnic minority youths at risk for suicide.

View details for DOI 10.1176/appi.ps.20220129

View details for PubMedID 36128694

View details for Web of Science ID 000793409000005

View details for Web of Science ID 000779722600015

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine trajectories of treatment response in suicidal youth who participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and individual and group supportive therapy (IGST).METHOD: Using latent class analysis across both treatment conditions, we conducted secondary analyses of data from a multisite RCT with N = 173 youth, ages 12-18, with repetitive self-harm (SH, including > 1 lifetime suicide attempt) and elevated suicidal ideation (SI). The sample was 95% female, 56.4% White and 27.49% Latina. Participants received 6 months of DBT or IGST and 6 months of follow-up. Primary outcomes were SH and SI.RESULTS: 63% of the sample were members of latent classes that showed improvement in SI and 74% showed improvement in SH. 13% were "total non-responders," with no improvement in SI or SH. SH non-response emerged at the mid-point of treatment (3 months), with non-responders showing a sharp increase in SH over the remainder of treatment and follow-up. Youth in DBT were significantly more likely to be an SH responder v. non-responder than those in IGST (2 [1] =6.53, p=0.01). An optimal threshold cut point using multivariate predictors of total non-response (White, externalizing symptoms, total SH, and SI) predicted total non-responders to DBT with 100% accuracy.CONCLUSION: This is the first study to identify trajectories of both SI and SH response to treatment in a sample of adolescents at risk of suicide. Results may inform personalized treatment approaches.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaac.2022.01.010

View details for PubMedID 35122952

Abstract

This study evaluated mechanisms, mediation, and secondary/exploratory outcomes in our randomized controlled trial evaluating Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) compared to Individual and Group Supportive Therapy (IGST), expanding on previously reported results indicating a DBT advantage at post-treatment on planned suicide/self-harm outcomes, and greater self-harm remission (absence of self-harm, post-hoc exploratory outcome) during active-treatment and follow-up periods.Multi-site randomized trial of 173 adolescents with prior suicide attempts, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. Randomization was to 6-months of DBT or IGST, with outcomes monitored through 12-months. Youth emotion regulation was the primary mechanistic outcome.Compared to IGST, greater improvements in youth emotion regulation were found in DBT through the treatment-period (t(498) =2.36, p=0.019) and 12-month study-period (t(498)=2.93, p=.004). Their parents reported using more DBT skills: post-treatment (t(497)=4.12, p<0.001); 12-month follow-up (t(497)=3.71, p<0.001). Mediation analyses predicted to self-harm remission during the 6-12-month follow-up, the pre-specified outcome because this was the only suicidality/self-harm variable with a significant DBT effect at follow-up: DBT 49.3%; IGST 29.7%, p=.013. Improvements in youth emotion regulation during treatment mediated the association between DBT and self-harm remission during follow-up (Months 6-12, Estimate 1.71, CI 1.01, 2.87, p= 0.045). Youth in DBT reported lower substance misuse, externalizing behavior, and total problems at post-treatment/6-months, and externalizing behavior through follow-up/12-months.Results support the significance of emotion regulation as a treatment target for reducing self-harm, and indicate a DBT advantage on substance misuse, externalizing behavior, and self-harm-remission, with 49.3% of youth in DBT achieving self-harm remission during follow-up.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.01.016

View details for PubMedID 33539915

View details for DOI 10.1111/cpsp.12384

View details for Web of Science ID 000575001100001

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaac.2020.07.338

View details for Web of Science ID 000579844100266

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate processes contributing to continuing self-harm in youth at very high risk for suicide, focusing on sleep disturbance, a putative warning sign of imminent suicide risk.METHOD: 101 youth (ages 12-18) selected for high risk of suicide/suicide attempts based on suicidal episodes plus repeated self-harm (suicide attempts and/or nonsuicidal self-injury [NSSI]). Youth were assessed at baseline, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups on measures of self-harm, suicidality, sleep, and depression.RESULTS: Youth showed high rates of baseline sleep disturbance: 81.2% scored in the clinical range on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); 81.2% reported an evening (night owl) circadian preference. PSQI score was associated with elevated levels of self-harm (suicide attempts and NSSI) contemporaneously and predicted future self-harm within 30days. Rates of self-harm were high during follow-up: 45.0% and 33.7% at 6 and 12months, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: Results underscore the need to move beyond an acute treatment model to prevent recurrent and potentially deadly self-harm, the importance of clarifying mechanisms contributing to elevated suicide/self-harm risk, and the potential promise of engaging sleep as a therapeutic target for optimizing treatment and elucidating mechanistic processes.

View details for DOI 10.1111/sltb.12658

View details for PubMedID 32706147

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.05.046

View details for PubMedID 32536511

Abstract

This study is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial, which compares the effectiveness of an adapted form of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) and treatment as usual plus group sessions (TAU+GS) to reduce suicidal risk for adolescents in a community health mental clinic.Thirty-five adolescents from a community outpatient clinic, with repetitive NSSI alone or with SA over the last 12months and with current high suicide risk as assessed by the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to undergo either DBT-A (n=18) or TAU+GT (n=17) treatments over a 16-week period. Primary outcomes were the difference between NSSI and SA recorded during the first 4weeks and the final 4weeks of treatment. Secondary outcomes included changes in Children's Global Assessment Scale (C-GAS), Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ-JR), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents was more effective than TAU+GS at reducing NSSI, use of antipsychotics, and improving C-GAS. No SAs were reported in the two groups at the end of the treatment. Both treatments were equally effective in decreasing SIQ-JR and BDI-II scores.These findings support the feasibility and effectiveness of DBT-A for adolescents at high risk of suicide in community settings.

View details for DOI 10.1111/sltb.12612

View details for PubMedID 31944371

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In primary analyses, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was associated with greater reduction in self-harm during treatment than individual/group supportive therapy (IGST). The objective of this paper was to examine predictors and moderators of treatment outcomes for suicidal adolescents who participated in a randomized controlled trial evaluating DBT and IGST.METHODS: Adolescents (N=173) were included in the intent-to-treat sample and randomized to receive 6 months of DBT or IGST. Potential baseline predictors and moderators were identified within four categories: demographics, severity markers, parental psychopathology, and psychosocial variables. Primary outcomes were suicide attempts (SA) and nonsuicidal self-injury evaluated at baseline, midtreatment (3months), and end of treatment (6months) via the Suicide Attempt and Self-Injury Interview (Psychological Assessment, 18, 2006, 303). For each moderator or predictor, a generalized linear mixed model was conducted to examine main and interactive effects of treatment and the candidate variable on outcomes.RESULTS: Adolescents with higher family conflict, more extensive self-harm histories, and more externalizing problems produced on average more reduction on SH frequency from baseline to post-treatment. Adolescents meeting BPD diagnosis were more likely to have high SH frequency at post-treatment. Analyses indicated significant moderation effects for emotion dysregulation on NSSI and SH. DBT was associated with better rates of improvement compared to IGST for adolescents with higher baseline emotion dysregulation and those whose parents reported greater psychopathology and emotion dysregulation. A significant moderation effect for ethnicity on SA over the treatment period was observed, where DBT produced better rate of improvement compared to IGST for Hispanic/Latino individuals.CONCLUSIONS: These findings may help to inform salient treatment targets and guide treatment planning. Adolescents that have high levels of family conflict, externalizing problems, and increased level of severity markers demonstrated the most change in self-harm behaviors over the course of treatment and benefitted from both treatment interventions. Those with higher levels of emotion dysregulation and parent psychopathology may benefit more from the DBT.

View details for DOI 10.1111/jcpp.13099

View details for PubMedID 31359435

View details for DOI 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.1228

View details for PubMedID 31268523

Abstract

Adolescent suicide is a serious public health problem, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is both highly comorbid with suicidality among adolescents and a significant predictor of suicide attempts (SAs) in adolescents. We will clarify extant definitions related to suicidality and NSSI and the important similarities and differences between these constructs. We will also review several significant risk factors for suicidality, evidence-based and evidence-informed safety management strategies, and evidence-based treatment for adolescent self-harming behaviors. Currently, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for adolescents is the first and only treatment meeting the threshold of a well-established treatment for self-harming adolescents at high risk for suicide. Areas in need of future study include processes underlying the association between NSSI and SAs, clarification of warning signs and risk factors that are both sensitive and specific enough to accurately predict who is at imminent risk for suicide, and further efforts to sustain the effects of DBT post-treatment. DBT is a time- and labor-intensive treatment that requires extensive training for therapists and a significant time commitment for families (generally 6 months). It will therefore be helpful to assess whether other less-intensive treatment options can be established as evidence-based treatment for suicidal adolescents.

View details for DOI 10.12688/f1000research.19868.1

View details for PubMedID 31681470

View details for Web of Science ID 000550052900005

View details for Web of Science ID 000550052900004

View details for Web of Science ID 000550052900002

View details for Web of Science ID 000550988100015

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.07.009

View details for Web of Science ID 000544087500003

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.07.838

View details for Web of Science ID 000544087502150

View details for DOI 10.1037/pro0000200

View details for Web of Science ID 000444622400004

View details for Web of Science ID 000552225100022

Abstract

The object of this research was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with suicidal and self-harming adolescents treated in a community clinic. A group of 24 adolescents at high risk for suicide were enrolled in 6 months of comprehensive DBT, provided by therapists and trainees at a county-run outpatient mental health clinic serving disadvantaged, ethnic minority clients. Results showed significant pre/post-treatment decreases in suicide attempts, non-suicidal self-injury behaviors (NSSI), and suicidal ideation. Results also showed significant decreases in other suicide risk factors, including emotion dysregulation, depression, impulsivity, BPD symptoms, psychopathology, PTSD symptoms, and substance use, as well as increases in family expressiveness and reasons for living. Treatment retention and satisfaction rates were high. As many youth at risk for suicide will be treated in community settings, findings showing that receiving DBT in a community clinic resulted in significant improvements across a range of suicide risk factors are an important contribution to the adolescent suicide prevention literature.

View details for DOI 10.1080/13811118.2018.1509750

Abstract

This prospective study of suicidal emergency department (ED) patients (ages 10-18) examined the timing, cumulative probability, and predictors of suicide attempts through 18months of follow-up. The cumulative probability of attempts was as follows: .15 at 6months, .22 at 1year, and .24 by 18months. One attempt was fatal, yielding a death rate of .006. Significant predictors of suicide attempt risk included a suicide attempt at ED presentation (vs. suicidal ideation only), nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior, and low levels of delinquent symptoms. Results underscore the importance of both prior suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-harm as risk indicators for future and potentially lethal suicide attempts.

View details for DOI 10.1111/sltb.12309

View details for PubMedID 27813143

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaac.2016.07.405

View details for Web of Science ID 000541964302208

View details for DOI 10.2174/1573400511666150930231932

View details for Web of Science ID 000402662100004

Abstract

Accurate evaluation of suicidal adolescents in the emergency department (ED) is critical for safety and linkage to follow-up care. We examined self-reports of 181 adolescents who presented to an ED with suicidal ideation (SI) or a suicide attempt (SA). Parents also completed self-reports. Results showed fair agreement between parents and youth on the reason for the ED visit (e.g., SI vs. SA) and greater agreement between independent judges and youths than between judges and parents. In accordance with accepted definitions of suicide attempts (e.g., Crosby, Ortega, & Melanson, 2011; O'Carroll, Berman, Maris, Moscicki, Tanney, & Silverman, 1996, p. 237; Posner, Oquendo, Gould, Stanley, & Davies, 2007, p. 1035; Silverman, Berman, Sanddal, O'Carroll, & Joiner, 2007, p. 248), most youth with SA as the reason for the ED visit reported some intent to die associated with the attempt. Finally, youth presenting to the ED with SA did not differ clinically from youth presenting with SI, and almost half of youths with SI reported past suicide attempts. These results highlight the need to emphasize adolescents' reports in clinical decision making, suggest adolescents' defined suicide attempts similarly to published definitions, and show that assessment of past SAs, as well as present suicidal thoughts and behaviors, is critical in determining future risk.

View details for DOI 10.1111/sltb.12133

View details for PubMedID 25327838

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe feasibility, safety, and outcome results from a treatment development trial of the SAFETY Program, a brief intervention designed for integration with emergency services for suicide-attempting youths. Suicide-attempting youths, ages 11 to 18, were enrolled in a 12-week trial of the SAFETY Program, a cognitive-behavioral family intervention designed to increase safety and reduce suicide attempt (SA) risk (N = 35). Rooted in a social-ecological cognitive-behavioral model, treatment sessions included individual youth and parent session-components, with different therapists assigned to youths and parents, and family session-components to practice skills identified as critical in the pathway for preventing repeat SAs in individual youths. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups. At the 3-month posttreatment assessment, there were statistically significant improvements on measures of suicidal behavior, hopelessness, youth and parent depression, and youth social adjustment. There was one reported SA by 3 months and another by 6 months, yielding cumulative attempt rates of 3% and 6% at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Treatment satisfaction was high. Suicide-attempting youths are at high risk for repeat attempts and continuing mental health problems. Results support the value of a randomized controlled trial to further evaluate the SAFETY intervention. Extension of treatment effects to parent depression and youth social adjustment are consistent with our strong family focus and social-ecological model of behavior change.

View details for DOI 10.1080/15374416.2014.940624

View details for PubMedID 25255931

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4289426

Abstract

Research on effective treatments for adolescent suicide attempters is urgently needed. However, there has been a lack of research in this area. This is likely a result of the multiple challenges faced by investigators working with individuals at high risk of suicide. Based on our experiences conducting a large, randomized clinical trial with adolescent suicide attempters, in this article, we review ways to address these challenges in order to facilitate needed research on suicide prevention in adolescents.

View details for PubMedID 24954969

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4061763

Abstract

Although family support reliably predicts the development of adolescent depression and suicidal behaviors, relatively little is known about the interplay of family support with potential genetic factors. We tested the association of the 44 base pair polymorphism in the serotonin transporter linked promoter region gene (5-HTTLPR), family support (i.e., cohesion, communication, and warmth), and their interaction with self-reported depression symptoms and risk for suicide in 1,030 Caucasian adolescents and young adults from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. High-quality family support predicted fewer symptoms of depression and reduced risk for suicidality. There was also a significant interaction between 5-HTTLPR and family support for boys and a marginally significant interaction for girls. Among boys with poor family support, youth with at least one short allele had more symptoms of depression and a higher risk for suicide attempts relative to boys homozygous for the long allele. However, in the presence of high family support, boys with the short allele had the fewest depression symptoms (but not suicide attempts). Results suggest that the short allele may increase reactivity to both negative and positive family influences in the development of depression. We discuss the potential role of interactive exchanges between family support and offspring genotype in the development of adolescent depression and suicidal behaviors.

View details for DOI 10.1017/S0954579413000321

View details for Web of Science ID 000330358700009

View details for PubMedID 24229544

View details for DOI 10.1037/a0033396

View details for Web of Science ID 000322909900008

Abstract

The Harkavy-Asnis Suicide Scale (HASS), one of the few self-report scales assessing suicidal behavior was evaluated and ideation, was evaluated and predictors of suicide attempts (SAs) were identified with the goal of developing a model that clinicians can use for monitoring SA risk. Participants were 131 pediatric emergency department (ED) patients with suicidal behavior. The HASS and Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC-IV) were administered approximately 2 months after ED presentation. When compared with DISC-IV ratings, sensitivity of the HASS SA items was excellent (100%), and overall classification accuracy was 72%. SA planning was the strongest predictor of SAs.

View details for DOI 10.1111/j.1943-278X.2012.00122.x

View details for Web of Science ID 000312131900008

View details for PubMedID 23072257

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4584212

Abstract

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents. Many suicidal youths treated in emergency departments do not receive follow-up treatment as advocated by the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Two strategies for improving rates of follow-up treatment were compared.In a randomized controlled trial, suicidal youths at two emergency departments (N=181; ages ten to 18) were individually assigned between April 2003 and August 2005 to one of two conditions: an enhanced mental health intervention involving a family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy session designed to increase motivation for follow-up treatment and safety, supplemented by care linkage telephone contacts after emergency department discharge, or usual emergency department care enhanced by provider education. Assessments were conducted at baseline and approximately two months after discharge from the emergency department or hospital. The primary outcome measure was rates of outpatient mental health treatment after discharge.Intervention patients were significantly more likely than usual care patients to attend outpatient treatment (92% versus 76%; p=.004). The intervention group also had significantly higher rates of psychotherapy (76% versus 49%; p=.001), combined psychotherapy and medication (58% versus 37%; p=.003), and psychotherapy visits (mean 5.3 versus 3.1; p=.003). Neither the emergency department intervention nor community outpatient treatment (in exploratory analyses) was significantly associated with improved clinical or functioning outcomes.Results support efficacy of the enhanced emergency department intervention for improving linkage to outpatient mental health treatment but underscore the need for improved community outpatient treatment to prevent suicide, suicide attempts, and poor clinical and functioning outcomes for suicidal youths treated in emergency departments.

View details for Web of Science ID 000296674000009

View details for PubMedID 22211209

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3251923

Abstract

To evaluate the clinical and prognostic significance of suicide attempts (SAs) and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents with treatment-resistant depression.Depressed adolescents who did not improve with an adequate SSRI trial (N = 334) were randomized to a medication switch (SSRI or venlafaxine), with or without cognitive-behavioral therapy. NSSI and SAs were assessed at baseline and throughout the 24-week treatment period.Of the youths, 47.4% reported a history of self-injurious behavior at baseline: 23.9% NSSI alone, 14% NSSI+SAs, and 9.5% SAs alone. The 24-week incidence rates of SAs and NSSI were 7% and 11%, respectively; these rates were highest among youths with NSSI+SAs at baseline. NSSI history predicted both incident SAs (hazard ratio [HR]= 5.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.80-15.47, z = 3.04, p = .002) and incident NSSI (HR = 7.31, z = 4.19, 95% CI = 2.88-18.54, p < .001) through week 24, and was a stronger predictor of future attempts than a history of SAs (HR = 1.92, 95% CI = 0.81-4.52, z = 2.29, p = .13). In the most parsimonious model predicting time to incident SAs, baseline NSSI history and hopelessness were significant predictors, adjusting for treatment effects. Parallel analyses predicting time to incident NSSI through week 24 identified baseline NSSI history and physical and/or sexual abuse history as significant predictors.NSSI is a common problem among youths with treatment-resistant depression and is a significant predictor of future SAs and NSSI, underscoring the critical need for strategies that target the prevention of both NSSI and suicidal behavior.Treatment of SSRI-Resistant Depression in Adolescents (TORDIA). URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique Identifier: NCT00018902.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaac.2011.04.003

View details for Web of Science ID 000293427800008

View details for PubMedID 21784297

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3143365

Abstract

In this report, we conducted a secondary analysis of the Treatment of SSRI-Resistant Depression in Adolescents (TORDIA) study to explore the impact of specific cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment components on outcome. In TORDIA, 334 youths (ages 12 to 18 years) with major depressive disorder who had failed to respond to an adequate course of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication were randomized to a medication switch (either to an alternative SSRI or venlafaxine) with or without 12 weeks of adjunctive CBT. Participants who had more than 9 CBT sessions were 2.5 times more likely to have adequate treatment response than those who had 9 or fewer sessions. CBT participants who received problem-solving and social skills treatment components, controlling for number of sessions and other confounding variables, were 2.3 and 2.6 times, respectively, more likely to have a positive response. These preliminary findings underscore the importance of receiving an adequate number of sessions to attain an adequate clinical response. Finally, social skills and problem solving may be active elements in CBT for adolescent depression and should be considered in treatment by those working with seriously depressed youths.

View details for DOI 10.1037/a0017411

View details for Web of Science ID 000272404800003

View details for PubMedID 19968380

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3705725

View details for DOI 10.1037/a0012599

View details for Web of Science ID 000265245900002

View details for DOI 10.1080/15298860701800092

View details for Web of Science ID 000260427500004

Abstract

Reducing youth suicide and suicide attempts are national priorities. Suicidal youth emergency department (ED) patients are at high risk for repeat and fatal attempts, yet information is lacking to guide service delivery. In one of the largest clinical studies of youth ED patients presenting with suicidality, we examine ideators, single attempters, and repeat attempters with the aim of clarifying optimal strategies for ED management and risk assessment.Consecutively admitted suicidal youths (10-18 years) from two EDs (N = 210) completed a questionnaire assessing sociodemographic, clinical, service use, and environmental stress variables.Despite differences in background characteristics, high levels of depression, externalizing behavior, posttraumatic stress symptoms, substance use, and thought problems were observed across sites. Suicide attempt risk, defined along a continuum ranging from ideation to single attempts to repeat attempts, was predicted by higher levels of clinical symptoms, service use, and environmental stress. Specific stresses associated with increased suicide attempt risk were romantic breakups, exposure to suicide/suicide attempts, and pregnancy in self or partner. Significant predictors of attempt risk in the male-only subgroup were depression, thought problems, previous ED visits, and romantic breakups.Pediatric ED patients presenting with suicidal ideation, single attempts, and repeat attempts fall along a continuum of increasing risk. Suicide attempt risk in males is associated with high levels of depression, but not with increased treatment rates, suggesting undertreatment in males, a group with particularly high risk for death by suicide. Treatment barriers must be addressed to achieve our national goal of reducing suicide/suicide attempts in youths.

View details for DOI 10.1097/CHI.0b013e3181799ee8

View details for Web of Science ID 000258043800017

View details for PubMedID 18596552

Abstract

The present research compared recent suicide attempters with and without a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). One hundred and eighty recent suicide attempters, recruited in the Emergency Department, participated in extensive research interviews. Results showed that suicide attempters with BPD displayed greater severity of overall psychopathology, depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, past suicide attempts, and had poorer social problem solving skills than those without a BPD diagnosis. No differences were found between the groups regarding the intent to die or lethality associated with the index suicide attempt. These findings highlight the seriousness of BPD and the risk that individuals diagnosed with this disorder will attempt suicide.

View details for PubMedID 17178645

View details for Web of Science ID 000228417900001

Abstract

Individuals with a differing number of past suicide attempts are generally considered a homogeneous group, despite emerging evidence to the contrary. The current study aimed to test the hypothesis that multiple suicide attempters would exhibit a more severe clinical profile than single suicide attempters.A series of self-report batteries and clinical interviews was administered to 39 single attempters and 114 multiple attempters who came to an urban hospital emergency room after a suicide attempt. The participants were predominantly poor and nonwhite.Multiple suicide attempters versus single attempters exhibited a greater degree of deleterious background characteristics (e.g., a history of childhood emotional abuse, a history of family suicide), increased psychopathology (e.g., depression, substance abuse), higher levels of suicidality (e.g., ideation), and poorer interpersonal functioning. Profile differences existed even after control for borderline personality disorder.Results indicate that multiple attempters display more severe psychopathology, suicidality, and interpersonal difficulties and are more likely to have histories of deleterious background characteristics than single attempters. Moreover, these differences cannot be explained by the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Results suggest that the identification of attempt status is a simple, yet powerful, means of gauging levels of risk and psychopathology.

View details for Web of Science ID 000221276000008

View details for PubMedID 14992968

Abstract

This study extended research on transference in social perception (e.g., S. M. Andersen, I. Reznik, & L. M. Manzella, 1996) into the realm of social behavior by examining behavioral confirmation (e.g., M. Snyder, 1992) in transference. Each perceiver participated in a brief conversation with a naive target participant, who either did or did not appear to resemble the perceiver's own positively or negatively regarded significant other. Trained judges rated positive affect expressed in targets' behavior. As predicted, targets expressed more positive affect in their behavior when they allegedly resembled the perceiver's own positively versus negatively toned significant other, an effect not found in the control condition. This evidence demonstrates behavioral confirmation in transference, suggesting a means by which present relationships may resemble past ones.

View details for DOI 10.1037//0022-3514.79.4.546

View details for Web of Science ID 000089712600005

View details for PubMedID 11045738