Clinical effects of sandplay therapy (SPT) on depression, anxiety, and aggression in high school students with suicidal behavior: Through MMPI-2

This study aimed to verify the clinical effects of Sandplay Therapy (SPT) on depression, anxiety, and aggression in high school students who exhibit suicidal behaviors such as suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and self-injury, using MMPI-2. Between 2023 and 2024, 15 sessions of SPT were conducted on 23 high school students who experienced suicidal incidents in high schools located in Chungcheongnam-do. The study participants were 6 males (26.1%) and 17 females (73.9%), with an average age of 16.70±0.76 years. Before treatment, the risk status of suicidal behavior and the establishment of a safety net were assessed first, and a post-evaluation was conducted after the end of treatment. There was a statistically significant change when the scores according to the MMPI-2 clinical scale and detailed assessment scale were compared before and after 15 sessions. There were statistically significant changes in the D (Depression, t=3.25, p=.004), Hy (Hysteria, t=2.29, p=.032), Sc (Schizophrenia, t=2.13, p=.045), and Si (Social Introversion, t=2.30, p=.032) scales of the clinical scale. In addition, significant changes were shown in ANX (Anxiety, t=2.08, p=.049), ASP (Antisocial practices, t=2.48, p=.021), PK (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, t=3.324, p=.003), DEP3 (Self-Depreciation, t=2.59, p=.017), and DEP4 (Suicidal Ideation, t=4.15, p<.001). These results suggest that SPT has a clinically significant effect on depression, anxiety, and aggression in high school students who have experienced suicidal events such as suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and self-injury.