title: Perceived burdensomeness and suicide ideation in adult outpatients receiving exposure therapy for anxiety disorders.
abstract: Perceived burdensomeness is considered a proximal risk factor for suicide ideation. However, there is a lack of prospective studies. Furthermore, it is unclear in as much psychotherapy for anxiety disorders is associated with a decrease in suicide ideation. A total of 105 adult outpatients suffering from panic disorder, agoraphobia, or specific phobia received manualized exposure-therapy. Perceived burdensomeness was considered as predictor of suicide ideation concurrently, after the fourth and the tenth therapy session and posttreatment - controlling for baseline symptom distress, suicide ideation, number of therapy sessions and age. Furthermore, pre-to post-changes in suicide ideation and perceived burdensomeness were assessed. Perceived burdensomeness emerged as a significant predictor of suicidal ideation concurrently and after the fourth and the tenth therapy session, but not at the end of therapy. Treatment had no effect on suicide ideation and only a marginal effect on perceptions of burdensomeness. In conclusion, the current study highlights the importance of perceptions of burdensomeness in understanding suicide ideation.
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany. Electronic address: tobias.teismann@rub.de.
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Teismann
authors: Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital of RWTH Aachen University, Germany.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Forkmann
authors: Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital of RWTH Aachen University, Germany.
authors: Dajana
authors: D
authors: Rath
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Heide
authors: H
authors: Glaesmer
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany.
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Margraf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anxiety disorders; Exposure therapy; Interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide; Perceived burdensomeness; Suicide ideation