Interpersonal Problem-Solving Skills Training in the Treatment of Self-Poisoning Patients

• Published in: Suicide & life-threatening behavior Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 382 - 394
• Main Authors: McLeavey, B. C., Daly, R. J., Ludgate, J. W., Murray, C. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.1994; Guilford; Human Sciences Press
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult; Alcohol Abuse; Alcoholism - psychology; Alcoholism - therapy; At Risk Persons; Attitude Measures; Behavior Modification; Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Control Groups; Creative Thinking; Dependent Personality Disorder - psychology; Dependent Personality Disorder - therapy; Depression (Psychology); Depressive Disorder - psychology; Depressive Disorder - therapy; Drug Overdose - prevention & control; Drug Overdose - psychology; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Injuries; Intelligence Quotient; Interpersonal Communication; Interpersonal Competence; Interpersonal Relations; Interpersonal Relationship; Likert Scales; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Disorders; Motivation; Outcome Measures; Patient Care Team; Patients; Personal development; Personality Inventory; Poisoning; Prevention; Problem Solving; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Questionnaires; Repetition; Risk Factors; Schizophrenia; Secondary Education; Self Concept Measures; Self Efficacy; Self Injurious Behavior; Social Cognition; Social research; Suicide; Suicide, Attempted - prevention & control; Suicide, Attempted - psychology; Thinking Skills; Treatments; Young Adults; Human; Social interaction; Treatment efficiency; Problem solving; Social aptitude; Poisoning; Behavior therapy; Interpersonal relation; Suicide attempt
• ISSN: 0363-0234; 1943-278X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1943-278X.1994.tb00817.x

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of interpersonal problem‐solving skills training (IPSST) for the treatment of self‐poisoning patients. Thirty‐nine self‐poisoning patients were assigned randomly either to IPSST or to a control treatment condition (a brief problem‐oriented approach). Both conditions were equally effective in reducing the number of presenting problems and in reducing hopelessness levels. However, the IPSST condition was significantly more effective than the control condition as determined by other outcome measures (measures of interpersonal cognitive problem solving, self‐rated personal problem‐solving ability, perceived ability to cope with ongoing problems, and self‐perception). Follow‐up studies showed maintenance of IPSST treatment gains at 6 months and a greater reduction of repetition of self‐poisoning in the IPSST group at 1 year posttreatment.