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. 2024 Jun;274(4):955-961.
doi: 10.1007/s00406-023-01675-x. Epub 2023 Aug 19.

Emotional distress and dysregulation as treatment targets to reduce suicide in psychosis: a scoping review

Peter Phalen  1 , David Kimhy  2   3 , David Jobes  4 , Melanie Bennett  5
Affiliations

Emotional distress and dysregulation as treatment targets to reduce suicide in psychosis: a scoping review

Peter Phalen et al. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

There is a pressing need for effective treatments that address the high rate of suicide observed among people with psychosis. In this scoping review we highlight two suicidogenic treatment targets that have been relatively neglected in people with psychotic disorders: emotional distress and emotion dysregulation. We review the research on these constructs in psychosis and their relationship to suicide in this population, and then make clinical recommendations based on research findings. Emotional distress and emotional dysregulation may be promising treatment targets for suicide among people with psychosis.

Keywords: Emotion regulation; Psychosis; Schizophrenia; Suicide.

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Conflict of interest statement

Statements and Declarations: The authors report no relationships with commercial interests.

Conflicts of Interest

DJ receives royalties from American Psychological Association Press and Guilford Press; he is also co-owner of CAMS-care, LLC (a professional training and consultation company).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Skills training is understood to disrupt the link between a perceived crisis and maladaptive coping behaviors (including suicidal behavior) by enabling more effective coping strategies. Effective coping also reduces distress and lessens the likelihood that distress is experienced as a crisis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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