title: Suicidal ideation among adolescents with alcohol use disorders during treatment and aftercare.
abstract: The objectives of this study are to assess the magnitude and course of suicidal ideation during outpatient treatment and aftercare for adolescents with alcohol use disorders (AUD). One hundred seventy-seven adolescents meeting eligibility criteria, including no past 30-day suicidal behavior, participated in 9 weeks of outpatient cognitive-behavioral group therapy. Treatment completers were randomized into: (1) No-Active, (2) In-Person, or (3) Telephone aftercare conditions for a period of 12 weeks. No specific intervention for suicidal behavior was provided during the study. The Suicide Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ-JR, Reynolds, 1988) was administered at baseline, end of treatment, and end of aftercare. The results are as follows, a higher baseline suicidal ideation was associated with higher retention at the end of treatment and through aftercare. The In-Person Aftercare condition showed a significant decrease in suicidal ideation, relative to the No-Active Aftercare condition. There was a trend for similarly reduced severity of suicidal ideation in the Telephone Aftercare condition. In conclusion, the type of aftercare and resulting decrease in AUD may play a role in the reduction in suicidal ideation. The mechanism of change by which suicidal ideation is reduced in adolescents in treatment for AUD needs to be further explored.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030-2103, USA. kaminer@psychiatry.uchc.edu
authors.forename: Yifrah
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kaminer
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Burleson
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Goldston
authors.forename: Rebecca H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000359:Aftercare / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*