Preprint Concept Paper Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Treatment of Intrusive Suicidal Imagery Using Eye Movements

Jael S Van Bentum
* ORCID logo ,
Marit Sijbrandij
,
Marcus Huibers
,
Annemiek Huisman
,
Arnoud Arntz
,
Emily Holmes
,
Ad Kerkhof
Version 1 : Received: 24 April 2017 / Approved: 24 April 2017 / Online: 24 April 2017 (11:59:53 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Bentum, J.S.; Sijbrandij, M.; Huibers, M.J.H.; Huisman, A.; Arntz, A.; Holmes, E.A.; Kerkhof, A.J.F.M. Treatment of Intrusive Suicidal Imagery Using Eye Movements. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 714. Bentum, J.S.; Sijbrandij, M.; Huibers, M.J.H.; Huisman, A.; Arntz, A.; Holmes, E.A.; Kerkhof, A.J.F.M. Treatment of Intrusive Suicidal Imagery Using Eye Movements. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 714.

Abstract

Suicide and suicidal behavior are major public health concerns and affect 3-9% of the population worldwide. Despite growing evidence, there are still few effective interventions available to reduce suicide risk. In this article, we describe theoretical models of suicide ideation and behavior and propose to examine the possible effectiveness of a new and innovative preventive strategy. A model of suicidal intrusion (mental imagery related to suicide, also referred to as suicidal flash-forwards) is presented describing one of the assumed mechanisms in the etiology of suicide and the mechanism of therapeutic change. We provide a brief rationale for an Eye Movement Dual Task (EMDT) treatment for suicidal intrusions describing techniques that can be used to target these suicidal mental images and thoughts to reduce overall behavior. Based on the available empirical evidence for the mechanisms of suicidal intrusions, this approach appears to be a promising new treatment to prevent suicidal behavior as it potentially targets one of the linking pins between suicidal ideation and suicidal actions.

Keywords

suicide; suicidal mental imagery; flash-forwards; intrusions; preventive intervention; eye movement dual task (EMDT)

Subject

Social Sciences, Psychology

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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