Example of suicide prevention in depressed mother of the autistic child in the course of integrative psychotherapy (clinical case)
The article gives an example of successful suicide prevention in a mother of autistic child by means of integrative psychotherapy. Research suggests that mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience serious stress that may lead to depression. Moreover, mothers of children with autism constitute a group of the increased suicide risk. Among them there is quite a high percent of suicidal behavior, including anti-vital experiences and suicidal thoughts. The model of integrative psychotherapy was developed for psychological assistance to families of children with ASD. The integrative psychotherapy represents multilevel and multilateral process, integrating the principles and methods of various psychotherapeutic directions (for example, horeotherapy, art-therapy, etc.), integrating specialists of different professions and profiles, integrating family members and, at last, integrating a special child into society. The therapy is aimed at the family at the systemic level, where each member of a group influences others. The particular case from clinical practice shows that systematic therapeutic work in a mother-autistic child dyad leads to positive results. Actualization of life plans, expansion of a temporary perspective and life purposes act as a powerful anti-suicidal barrier. Among anti-suicide factors there is also enhancement of social communications, intensification of care of the child, support of relatives, as well as improvement of the mental state of the child and returning to work. It is concluded that the integrative approach in therapy of families with ASD children, which are experiencing stress and depression is effective.