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Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder reduces suicidal ideation.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Gradus, JL; Suvak, MK; Wisco, BE; Marx, BP; Resick, PA
Published in: Depress Anxiety
October 2013

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a significant public health problem. Although various studies have found evidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a risk factor for suicidal behaviors, no study has examined whether or not PTSD treatment decreases suicidal thoughts. This study aims to fill this gap in the literature by examining changes in suicidal ideation over the course of a randomized clinical trial, which compared two widely used treatments for PTSD-cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE). METHODS: Data from 163 trial participants over five time points (pre- and posttreatment, 3 and 9 months posttreatment, and 5-10 years posttreatment) were examined using multilevel growth curve analyses to determine if reductions in PTSD symptoms during treatment were associated with reductions in suicidal ideation. Major depression diagnosis and hopelessness were controlled. RESULTS: Suicidal ideation decreased sharply during treatment with continued, but more subtle decreases, during the follow-up period. These decreases were associated with decreases in PTSD symptoms over the course of treatment. These associations were not accounted for by depression diagnoses at the start of the study or changes in hopelessness over the course of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Two widely used, effective treatments for PTSD reduce suicidal ideation. CPT exhibited a larger influence on suicidal ideation than PE, although the magnitude of the difference was small in size. Inclusion of PTSD screening and treatment could enhance suicide prevention efforts.

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Published In

Depress Anxiety

DOI

EISSN

1520-6394

Publication Date

October 2013

Volume

30

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1046 / 1053

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Male
  • Logistic Models
  • Implosive Therapy
  • Humans
  • Hope
  • Follow-Up Studies
 

Citation

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Gradus, J. L., Suvak, M. K., Wisco, B. E., Marx, B. P., & Resick, P. A. (2013). Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder reduces suicidal ideation. Depress Anxiety, 30(10), 1046–1053. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22117
Gradus, Jaimie L., Michael K. Suvak, Blair E. Wisco, Brian P. Marx, and Patricia A. Resick. “Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder reduces suicidal ideation.Depress Anxiety 30, no. 10 (October 2013): 1046–53. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22117.
Gradus JL, Suvak MK, Wisco BE, Marx BP, Resick PA. Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder reduces suicidal ideation. Depress Anxiety. 2013 Oct;30(10):1046–53.
Gradus, Jaimie L., et al. “Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder reduces suicidal ideation.Depress Anxiety, vol. 30, no. 10, Oct. 2013, pp. 1046–53. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/da.22117.
Gradus JL, Suvak MK, Wisco BE, Marx BP, Resick PA. Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder reduces suicidal ideation. Depress Anxiety. 2013 Oct;30(10):1046–1053.
Journal cover image

Published In

Depress Anxiety

DOI

EISSN

1520-6394

Publication Date

October 2013

Volume

30

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1046 / 1053

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Male
  • Logistic Models
  • Implosive Therapy
  • Humans
  • Hope
  • Follow-Up Studies