A new Behavior Therapy study by Bryan and colleagues examined whether Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for suicide prevention can be delivered in a “massed” format—daily sessions over about two weeks—rather than the usual weekly format. In this small pragmatic trial of 55 adults with recent suicidal thoughts or behaviors, patients in both the intensive and standard weekly formats showed improvements in suicidal thinking, depression, and functioning by the end of treatment. The intensive format produced gains more quickly, but some benefits appeared to weaken by three-month follow-up, suggesting that booster sessions or step-down support may be needed. Because the study was small and nonrandomized, the findings are best viewed as promising but preliminary.
Clinical takeaway: For high-risk clients, consider whether key suicide-focused CBT components can be delivered earlier and more intensively, especially crisis response planning, means safety counseling, emotion regulation skills, cognitive flexibility work, and relapse prevention. Rapid skill delivery may be useful when risk is acute or dropout is likely, but intensive formats should include careful follow-up planning, booster sessions, or step-down care to help sustain gains after treatment ends.