Cognitive Behavioral Approaches for Treating Suicidal Behavior in Adolescents

This article reviews the existing literature on psychotherapy approaches for preventing subsequent suicidal behavior in adolescents with a history of suicide attempts. At present, there are no well-established treatments for decreasing suicide attempts in adolescents, although promising approaches exist and are continuing to be tested. In this article, we describe interventions with evidence for decreasing suicidal or self-harm behaviors in adolescents in randomized trials. In order to illustrate the types of therapeutic techniques used in these treatments, we provide a more in depth discussion of two CBT-based interventions: 1) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for adolescents and the 2) Safe Alternatives for Teens and Youth (SAFETY) Program [1, 2].