Perceptions of Adjunctive Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to Prevent Suicidal Behavior Among High Suicide-Risk Outpatient Participants

Background: Few investigations of patient perceptions of suicide prevention interventions exist, limiting our understanding of the processes and components of treatment that may be engaging and effective for high suicide-risk patients.

Aims: Building on promising quantitative data that showed that adjunct mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to prevent suicidal behavior (MBCT-S) reduced suicidal thinking and depression among high suicide-risk patients, we subjected MBCT-S to qualitative inspection by patient participants.

Method: Data were provided by 15 patients who completed MBCT-S during a focus group and/or via a survey. Qualitative data were coded using thematic analysis. Themes were summarized using descriptive analysis.

Results: Most patients viewed the intervention as acceptable and feasible. Patients attributed MBCT-S treatment engagement and clinical improvement to improved emotion regulation. A minority of patients indicated that factors related to the group treatment modality were helpful. A small percentage of patients found that aspects of the treatment increased emotional distress and triggered suicidal thinking. These experiences, however, were described as fleeting and were not linked to suicidal behavior.

Limitations: The sample size was small.

Conclusion: Information gathered from this study may assist in refining MBCT-S and treatments to prevent suicidal behavior among high suicide-risk patients generally.