title: Clinical applications of the interpersonal-psychological theory of attempted and completed suicide.
abstract: This article reviews the interpersonal-psychological theory of attempted and completed suicide and describes its applications in suicide risk assessment, crisis intervention, and skills-based psychotherapies. Three components are necessary, but not sufficient, for an individual to die by suicide: (1) the acquired capability to enact lethal self-injury, (2) a sense that one is a burden on others, and (3) the sense that one does not belong to a valued social group. We suggest that therapeutic interventions should focus on ascertaining the presence of these components and work to amend the cognitive distortions, negative interpersonal response styles, and ineffective coping behaviors that serve to maintain suicidal urges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida State University, FL 32306-1270, USA.
authors.forename: Nadia E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Stellrecht
authors.forename: Kathryn H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Orden
authors.forename: Tracy K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.forename: LaRicka R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Wingate
authors.forename: Kelly C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Cukrowicz
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Norman B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Kathleen Kara
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Joiner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011582:Psychological Theory; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013405:Suicide; D013406:Suicide, Attempted