Impact of Group Problem Solving Training on Some Psychological Characteristics of Adolescents Attempting Suicide

Intensive studies have been done about the epidemiology and psychological predictors of suicide behavior, but, regarding the treatment, a few controlled investigations have been undertaken. The high suicide rate and attempting it among the adolescents reveal the necessity of remedial measures to be taken. This study has been done to consider the impacts of group problem solving on some psychological characteristics (depression, hopelessness, and coping skills) of adolescents attempting suicide. In this research, the impact of problem solving methods was studied as an independent variable on depression, hopelessness and coping skills as dependent variables by an experimental design, using experimental and control groups. The sample consisted of 26 people chosen randomly and divided into two experimental and control groups. The experimental group was trained in a step by step problem solving program for 12 sessions. The dependent variables were measured by Beck Depression Inventor (BDI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and Blingz and Mause Coping Skills Questionnaires (CSQ) before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed using T-test. The results showed no significant difference between the dependent variables of the two groups before the treatment. But after the intervention and performance of the remedial method, there was a significant difference between depression, hopelessness and coping skills variables of the two groups (p<%1). Discussion & According to this investigation, training in problem solving can decrease depression, hopelessness and increase the efficacy in coping skills of adolescents who attemp suicide.