Comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness treatment on distress tolerance and suicidal ideation in adolescents with suicidal thoughts

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness treatment on distress tolerance and suicidal ideation in adolescents with suicidal thoughts.

The method of the study was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population of this study included all adolescent students in Savojbolagh in 2019, among whom 60 eligible volunteers were included in the study based on the cut off of Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (1979) and Distress Tolerance Scale by Simons & Gaher (2005) and were randomly divided into two experimental groups of cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness and a control group so that there were 20 people in each group. Subjects answered Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (1979) and Distress Tolerance Scale by Simons & Gaher (2005) for pretest and posttest. 6 sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy based on Leahy intervention protocol (2017) and 6 sessions of mindfulness therapy based on Burdick intervention protocol (2014) were held for 90 minutes each for 2 experimental groups. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance, SPSS software and Bonferroni post hoc test.

Statistical analysis showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness significantly increased distress tolerance (P=0.044) and significantly reduced suicidal ideation (P<0.001) in the experimental group compared to the control group.

According to the research findings, cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness can be used to improve suicidal ideation and increase the distress tolerance of adolescents with suicidal ideation.