5 - (IOP 22) Suicide as a Distinct Clinical Target: Reimagining CBT Research and Practice to Broaden Reach and Impact

Despite rising suicide rates and growing recognition of suicide as a leading cause of death, individuals at high risk for suicide remain routinely excluded from clinical trials—limiting the reach, generalizability, and public health impact of cognitive and behavioral therapies (CBTs). Yet recent evidence shows that CBT-based interventions specifically designed to reduce suicide risk, including Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) and Cognitive Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CT-SP), are not only effective but can be delivered safely to high-risk populations. Still, the implementation of these interventions remains limited, and suicide is often treated as a secondary outcome, rather than a primary, cross-cutting clinical target.

This presentation argues that suicide must be reimagined as its own distinct and treatable target within the CBT framework. Doing so requires a shift: from avoidance and exclusion to intentional inclusion and intervention. More therapies must offer clear, structured paths to address suicidal thoughts and behaviors—whether as standalone protocols or integrated components of broader treatment models. Trial designs must evolve to ethically manage, not avoid, suicide-related events, and implementation science must bridge the growing gap between efficacy and practice.

Drawing on systematic review data and national research trends, this talk outlines key steps toward building a translational research agenda that centers suicide-specific CBTs, expands trial inclusion criteria, and accelerates equitable, scalable implementation to reach those most at risk.