TY - JOUR
T1 - Group treatments for individuals at risk for suicide
T2 - A PRISMA scoping review (ScR)
AU - Sullivan, Sarah R.
AU - Monahan, Maureen F.
AU - Mitchell, Emily L.
AU - Spears, Angela Page
AU - Walsh, Samantha
AU - Szeszko, Jake R.
AU - Gromatsky, Molly
AU - Stanley, Barbara
AU - Goodman, Marianne
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by the following grants: VA Merit Award (PLF) to Dr. Goodman. Lastly, Dr. Gromatsky was supported by the VISN 2 MIRECC fellowship. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Finally, the first author dedicates this work to the memory of her grandfather, Michael Sullivan (1929-2018), who served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1963. He instilled a great respect for service members and Veterans to his family.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Background: This PRISMA scoping review explored worldwide research of interventions for suicide prevention delivered within a group setting. Research on group treatments underscores the importance of peer connection in diminishing social isolation and increasing social support. Additional benefits of group treatment include cost efficiency and maximization of staff time. However, the clinical outcomes of group treatments with individuals at risk for suicide are less understood and under researched. Aim: This scoping review had two objectives: 1) To identify existing group treatments where suicidal thoughts and behaviors are openly discussed; 2) To examine the outcomes of these identified treatments, with special attention to treatment integrity. Method: To address these aims the authors searched Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and PsycINFO (Ovid), on November 25, 2020. At the Full Text stage, articles were included that were peer reviewed, described a suicide specific group intervention and reported suicide specific outcomes. An additional requirement was open dialogue of suicide in the group intervention. Results: Only ten research reports of suicide-specific group treatments were identified in our PRISMA-ScR. In spite of many differences in setting, population, length, and frequency of sessions, all ten groups reported improvements in varying aspects of suicide symptoms. The only adverse impacts were reported by two studies wherein two (of 92) participants attempted suicide and a small number (7%) of adolescents reported feeling triggered with suicidal thinking during a session. Despite our focus on empirical data in this review, the methodological rigor of the studies evaluated was limited. Conclusion: Despite the paucity of group treatment research in which suicidal thoughts and behaviors are openly discussed, the outcomes of these treatments were promising in decreasing suicide risk. These results may be due to unfounded fears of contagion. Further implications of these findings are considered along with limitations that may have excluded clinical work from meeting inclusion criteria for this review. Nonetheless, this evidence suggests that, suicide-focused groups have great potential for prevention of suicidal symptoms and should be further expanded in the future.
AB - Background: This PRISMA scoping review explored worldwide research of interventions for suicide prevention delivered within a group setting. Research on group treatments underscores the importance of peer connection in diminishing social isolation and increasing social support. Additional benefits of group treatment include cost efficiency and maximization of staff time. However, the clinical outcomes of group treatments with individuals at risk for suicide are less understood and under researched. Aim: This scoping review had two objectives: 1) To identify existing group treatments where suicidal thoughts and behaviors are openly discussed; 2) To examine the outcomes of these identified treatments, with special attention to treatment integrity. Method: To address these aims the authors searched Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and PsycINFO (Ovid), on November 25, 2020. At the Full Text stage, articles were included that were peer reviewed, described a suicide specific group intervention and reported suicide specific outcomes. An additional requirement was open dialogue of suicide in the group intervention. Results: Only ten research reports of suicide-specific group treatments were identified in our PRISMA-ScR. In spite of many differences in setting, population, length, and frequency of sessions, all ten groups reported improvements in varying aspects of suicide symptoms. The only adverse impacts were reported by two studies wherein two (of 92) participants attempted suicide and a small number (7%) of adolescents reported feeling triggered with suicidal thinking during a session. Despite our focus on empirical data in this review, the methodological rigor of the studies evaluated was limited. Conclusion: Despite the paucity of group treatment research in which suicidal thoughts and behaviors are openly discussed, the outcomes of these treatments were promising in decreasing suicide risk. These results may be due to unfounded fears of contagion. Further implications of these findings are considered along with limitations that may have excluded clinical work from meeting inclusion criteria for this review. Nonetheless, this evidence suggests that, suicide-focused groups have great potential for prevention of suicidal symptoms and should be further expanded in the future.
KW - Cohesion
KW - Group Treatments
KW - Suicide Intervention' Treatment Integrity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85111595974&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114108
DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114108
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34352592
AN - SCOPUS:85111595974
SN - 0165-1781
VL - 304
JO - Psychiatry Research
JF - Psychiatry Research
M1 - 114108
ER -