Randomized Controlled Trial: Behavioral Outcomes of Socio-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicidal Behaviors in Latinx Adolescents

AI Summary

At 6 months Socio-Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Suicidal Behaviour halved suicide attempts and significantly reduced suicidal events and NSSI versus treatment as usual.
No differences in suicide-related behavioural outcomes were observed between conditions at 12 months.
First US randomised trial exclusively of Latinx adolescents; culturally and identity informed CBT showed effectiveness, with similar effects for LGBTQ+ subgroup.

AI Summary

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of Socio-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicidal Behavior compared to treatment as usual in reducing suicide-related behavioral outcomes among Latinx adolescents.

Socio-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicidal Behavior led to better 6-month treatment outcomes for Latinx adolescents than treatment as usual demonstrating that a culturally and identity-informed CBT treatment can significantly reduce suicide attempts, suicidal events, and non-suicidal self-injuries in this high-risk population.

Basic summary

J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2026 Jul 7:1-14. doi: 10.1080/15374416.2026.2687880. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

METHOD: A randomized clinical trial comparing Socio-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicidal Behavior, a culturally centered treatment protocol, to treatment as usual in a sample of 114 Latinx adolescents recruited after a suicidal crisis. Socio-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicidal Behavior addresses cognitive and behavioral skills as well as central issues in adolescent identity formation, parenting skills, family interactions, and communication. This report describes the study sample, attrition rates, treatment engagement, and outcomes for suicide attempts, suicidal events, and non-suicidal self-injuries.

RESULTS: Intent-to-treat analyses showed significant differences in treatment outcomes between conditions at the 6-month follow-up after baseline. At 6-months, Socio-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicidal Behavior halved the rate of suicide attempts (relative risk, RR = 0.50, 95% confidence interval, CI [0.12, 0.89], p = .01), and similarly reduced the risk of suicidal events (RR = 0.57, 95% CI [0.21, 0.92], p = .02), and NSSI (RR = .62, 95% CI [0.29, 0.96], p = .03) relative to patients enrolled in treatment as usual. Sub-group analyses suggest the effects were similar for those who identify as LGBTQ+ (n = 67). There were no differences by condition in any behavioral outcomes at 12-months.

CONCLUSION: This study is the first randomized clinical trial in the United States focused exclusively on Latinx adolescents with suicidal behaviors. Socio-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicidal Behavior led to better 6-month treatment outcomes for Latinx adolescents than treatment as usual demonstrating that a culturally and identity-informed CBT treatment can significantly reduce suicide attempts, suicidal events, and non-suicidal self-injuries in this high-risk population.

PMID:42413031 | DOI:10.1080/15374416.2026.2687880

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