Imagery Rescripting of Mental Images of Suicide, A Feasibility Study

Funding

Charities/Societies/Foundations,Suicide Prevention Australia

Scientific enquiries

Prof Lianne Schmaal

Brief Summary

Suicide is the leading cause of death among Australians aged 15-24 . Increasing our understanding of risk factors and developing novel indicated interventions to reduce deaths by suicide is urgently needed. In this project, we aim to develop and test the acceptability, feasibility and safety of a novel psychological intervention for young people with suicidal thoughts, that specifically targets a distressing form of suicidal thoughts that has been underrecognized in both clinical practice and re .... Suicide is the leading cause of death among Australians aged 15-24 . Increasing our understanding of risk factors and developing novel indicated interventions to reduce deaths by suicide is urgently needed. In this project, we aim to develop and test the acceptability, feasibility and safety of a novel psychological intervention for young people with suicidal thoughts, that specifically targets a distressing form of suicidal thoughts that has been underrecognized in both clinical practice and research to date: mental images of suicide. One promising psychological intervention for treating intrusive and distressing mental images is imagery rescripting. Imagery rescripting involves individuals focusing on the content of their intrusive and distressing mental images and then vividly imagining an alternative outcome. This image is generated and rehearsed with a therapist. No previous studies have used imagery rescripting to directly target suicide-related mental images and to assess the effectiveness of this intervention in young people, for whom suicide is the leading cause of death. In this pilot study we aim to examine whether this intervention is acceptable, feasible, and safe in a small pilot study.
Read more

Key Inclusion Criteria

1. Young people aged 16 to 25 inclusive; 2. Current or recent suicidal ideation (within last 4 weeks); 3. Engagement with Orygen Specialist Program’s Youth Mood Clinic treatment as determined by the treating clinician; 4. Familiarity with, and willingness to use available crisis supports in context of suicide risk determined by patient report and clinical information; 5. Ability to provide informed consent and comply with study procedures; 6. Willingness to nominate an emergency contact; 7. Repo .... 1. Young people aged 16 to 25 inclusive; 2. Current or recent suicidal ideation (within last 4 weeks); 3. Engagement with Orygen Specialist Program’s Youth Mood Clinic treatment as determined by the treating clinician; 4. Familiarity with, and willingness to use available crisis supports in context of suicide risk determined by patient report and clinical information; 5. Ability to provide informed consent and comply with study procedures; 6. Willingness to nominate an emergency contact; 7. Reporting one or more mental images of suicide, which increases risk for suicide, in the past 14 days; 8. Willingness to dedicate two treatment sessions to imagery rescripting therapy to treat the suicidal mental image (with an optional third and fourth session).
Read more

Key Exclusion Criteria

1. Presence of an intellectual disability as documented on their medical record; 2. Not able to converse in, or read in English; 3. Poorly engaged in face-to-face treatment or approaching discharge as determined by the treating clinician; 4. Currently at acute risk of suicide requiring acute risk management; 5. Actively manic or psychotic (assessed by treating clinician) as assessed by the treating clinician; 6. Active mania or psychosis as assessed by the treating clinician; 7. Has not experien .... 1. Presence of an intellectual disability as documented on their medical record; 2. Not able to converse in, or read in English; 3. Poorly engaged in face-to-face treatment or approaching discharge as determined by the treating clinician; 4. Currently at acute risk of suicide requiring acute risk management; 5. Actively manic or psychotic (assessed by treating clinician) as assessed by the treating clinician; 6. Active mania or psychosis as assessed by the treating clinician; 7. Has not experienced mental images of suicide; 8. Presence of organic brain disease or severe neurological impairment, as documented in medical record; 9. Experience of only mental image(s) of suicide which decreases the risk of suicidal behaviour (i.e. a protective image) as reported by participant.
Read more