Behavioral Activation for Perinatal Suicide Ideation

Can a brief behavioral activation psychotherapy reduce the likelihood of endorsing suicide ideation (SI) among perinatal populations, and do effects differ based on clinician type (nonspecialist vs specialist) or modality (telemedicine vs in person)?In this secondary analysis of a multisite noninferiority randomized clinical trial evaluating behavioral activation for perinatal depression among 1117 patients, the likelihood of endorsing SI decreased by 25% with each additional treatment session and by 80% at 3 months postrandomization, irrespective of clinician type or modality.Behavioral activation delivered by various health care clinicians and modalities may be an effective and scalable intervention for perinatal SI.

Corresponding Author: Daisy R. Singla, PhD, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 60 White Squirrel Way, Room 313, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada (daisy.singla@utoronto.ca).

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