DBT-Based Parenting Intervention for Parents of Youth at Risk for Suicide

The purpose of the present study is to conduct a pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT) of an 8-10 session DBT-based parenting intervention (DBT PI) plus standard Dialectical Behavior Therapy delivered in the context of an intensive outpatient program (DBT IOP) to DBT IOP alone. The long term goal of the research is to determine if augmenting standard DBT with additional parenting intervention improves youth treatment response on suicide-related outcomes (i.e., suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempts). The goal of this pilot RCT is to collect preliminary data needed for a larger RCT, including feasibility, acceptability, safety, tolerability, engagement of the presumed mechanism of change (changes in parent emotions and behaviors) and signal detection of any changes in youth suicide-related outcomes.