Targeting Burdensomeness among Clinic Referred Youth: Development of a CBT Module

Authors

Victor BuitronFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major/Program

Psychology

First Advisor's Name

Jeremy Pettit

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee chair

Second Advisor's Name

Dana McMakin

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Third Advisor's Name

Stacy Frazier

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Fourth Advisor's Name

Mark Padilla

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Keywords

Suicide ideation, perceived burdensomeness, children and adolescents

Date of Defense

6-15-2021

Abstract

Research has established perceived burdensomeness toward others as a correlate and risk factor for suicide ideation in youth. Existing CBT protocols for internalizing disorders target thoughts and behaviors related to anxiety and/or depression, but do not explicitly target other identified risk factors for suicide ideation, including perceived burdensomeness toward others. The aims of the current study were to (1) develop a novel, brief selective prevention module (the “Give program”) targeting perceived burdensomeness toward others that can be embedded within existing CBT protocols for youth internalizing disorders, (2) evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of the module with an eye toward intervention refinement, and (3) examine reductions in perceived burdensomeness. Participants were 18 clinic-referred youths with anxiety or depressive disorders who endorsed burdensomeness. The study utilized a quasi-experimental interrupted time-series design to evaluate changes in burdensomeness scores following the administration of the module. The module was clinically feasible and well-accepted. Youth burdensomeness scores increased in the first half of the CBT protocol, and decreased immediately following the administration of the Give program module. The current study is the first to develop and evaluate a selective preventive module targeting burdensomeness in at-risk youth in an outpatient setting, demonstrating that burdensomeness can be efficiently and effectively targeted within existing evidence-based treatment protocols for internalizing disorders in youth.

Identifier

FIDC010210

Recommended Citation

Buitron, Victor, "Targeting Burdensomeness among Clinic Referred Youth: Development of a CBT Module" (2021). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4781.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/4781