Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention

Craig J. Bryan, PsyD, ABPP, is Executive Director of the National Center for Veterans Studies and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah. He is an associate editor of the journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior and previously served on the board of directors of the American Association of Suicidology. Dr. Bryan has received honors including the Charles S. Gersoni Military Psychology Award from Division 19 (Society for Military Psychology) and the Peter J. N. Linnerooth National Service Award from Division 18 (Psychologists in Public Service) of the American Psychological Association, as well as the Citizen Scientist Award and the Edwin S. Shneidman Award from the American Association of Suicidology. He is a University of Utah Presidential Scholar and Beacon of Excellence recipient. From 2005 to 2009, he served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force as a clinical psychologist, including a deployment to Iraq in 2009. Dr. Bryan’s primary research interests include suicide prevention and posttraumatic stress disorder. He has published over 150 scientific articles and several books, most of which focus on suicide prevention, trauma, and military mental health.M. David Rudd, PhD, ABPP, is President of the University of Memphis, where he is also Distinguished University Professor of Psychology. He is Co-Founder and Scientific Director of the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah. Dr. Rudd is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the International Academy of Suicide Research, and the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, and has been elected a Distinguished Practitioner and Scholar of the National Academies of Practice in Psychology. He previously served as chair of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, president of the Texas Psychological Association, president of the American Association of Suicidology, and a member of the American Psychological Association’s Council of Representatives. Dr. Rudd’s research focuses on the treatment of suicidal patients. He has published over 200 scientific articles and numerous books on the clinical care of suicidal individuals, and is considered an international leader in suicide prevention.

• I. Background and Conceptual Foundation1. Why Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Prevent Suicide?2. Conceptualizing Suicide: The Suicidal Mode3. Core Principles of Treatment with Suicidal Patients4. Suicide Risk Assessment and Its Documentation5. Monitoring Treatment Progress6. An Overview of Brief Cognitive-Behavioral TherapyII. The First Session7. Describing the Structure of Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy8. Narrative Assessment9. Treatment Log and Case Conceptualization10. Crisis Response PlanIII. Phase One: Emotion Regulation and Crisis Management11. Treatment Planning and Commitment to Treatment Statement12. Means Safety Counseling and Crisis Support Plan13. Targeting Sleep Disturbance14. Relaxation and Mindfulness Skills Training15. Reasons for Living List and Survival KitIV. Phase Two: Undermining the Suicidal Belief System16. ABC Worksheets17. Challenging Questions Worksheets18. Patterns of Problematic Thinking Worksheets19. Activity Planning and Coping CardsV. Phase III: Relapse Prevention20. Relapse Prevention Task and Ending TreatmentAppendix A. Patient Forms and HandoutsA1. The Suicidal ModeA2. Patient Information Sheet about Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) to Prevent Suicide AttemptsA3. Treatment Plan TemplateA4. Commitment to Treatment StatementA5. Means Safety PlanA6. Crisis Support PlanA7. Improving Your Sleep HandoutA8. ABC WorksheetA9. Challenging Questions WorksheetA10. Patterns of Problematic Thinking WorksheetAppendix B. Clinician ToolsB1. Fidelity ChecklistsB2. Suicide Risk Assessment Documentation TemplateB3. Crisis Response Plan TemplateB4. Possible Warning SignsB5. Common Self-Management StrategiesB6. Relaxation ScriptB7. Mindfulness Script

"There are very few treatments specifically designed to reduce suicide risk. From leading figures in the field of suicide prevention, this is a timely, extremely useful book. Bryan and Rudd's evidence-based approach is accessible to any clinician trained in general principles of CBT. This book should be on the shelf of any CBT practitioner who sees patients with suicide ideation or attempts."--E. David Klonsky, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Canada"This is the definitive handbook for suicide prevention--it outlines the most effective treatment for reducing suicide attempts developed to date. BCBT is supported by solid scientific evidence emanating from the largest-ever clinical trials targeting high-risk suicidal patients. The book provides extensive details on the functional analysis of suicidal behavior--directly targeting suicidal thoughts and behaviors as the primary outcome--unlike typical approaches targeting psychiatric diagnoses or symptoms. A 'must read' for all behavioral health counselors."--Alan L. Peterson, PhD, ABPP, Krus Endowed Chair in Psychiatry; Director, STRONG STAR Consortium; and Director, Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, University of Texas Health Care Science Center at San Antonio"Rather than focusing on some other diagnosis such as depression, Bryan and Rudd’s functional model of suicide prevention focuses on the suicidal behavior itself, with simple-to-apply, short-term CBT skills. This manual represents the most recent and effective effort in the evolution of treatments to reduce suicidal risk, and should be taught to and used by all clinicians for this most serious and increasingly frequent problem. This is a book that every therapist should have.”--Patricia A. Resick, PhD, ABPP, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical School"Bryan and Rudd have written an exceptionally detailed book that provides a step-by-step guide for the care of individuals at risk for suicide. Why should you learn BCBT? Because you will become equipped with specific CBT strategies that will make you not only more confident as a clinician, but also more effective in helping your suicidal patients regain their desire to live and thrive."--Marjan G. Holloway, PhD, faculty member, Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy -This is an excellent clinician guide for implementing brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for suicide prevention. The rationale is solid and accompanied by salient and user-friendly materials. Having this structured approach to an intense situation can help increase clinician confidence and patient outcomes. *****!--Doody's Review Service, 10/5/2018