Attachment-based family therapy with suicidal adolescents: An overview

Abstract

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in adolescents worldwide. Recent studies have identified familial and relational risk factors for suicide in adolescence. Unfortunately, few family-based treatments have been developed and tested for this challenging population. Attachment-based family therapy (ABFT) is a brief family-based treatment that has been shown to effectively reduce suicide ideation and attempts. Using five treatment tasks, ABFT focuses on reframing the problem to a systemic issue, developing understanding of the system and the depression, and creating corrective attachment experiences. Based on attachment theory, ABFT helps the adolescent and their parent(s) to develop a more secure relationship that will function as a buffer against suicide-related thoughts and behaviors in the future.