Brief Interventions for Short-Term Suicide Risk Reduction in Military Populations

Study Summary

The purpose of the proposed study is to identify the most effective brief interventions for reducing short-term risk for suicide attempts in "real world" military triage settings, and to identify potential mechanisms of change underlying the interventions' impact on subsequent suicide attempts. We will randomize 360 patients to one of three commonly-used crisis interventions delivered as routine care in the mental health triage system: (1) Treatment As Usual (TAU); (2) Standard Crisis Response Plan (S-CRP); or (3) Enhanced Crisis Response Plan with Reasons For Living (E-CRP). The following hypotheses will be tested: 1. The enhanced crisis response plan (E-CRP) intervention will contribute to significantly decreased risk for suicide attempts and hospitalization during follow-up relative to the standard crisis response plan alone (S-CRP) and treatment as usual (TAU). 2. The standard crisis response plan (S-CRP) intervention will contribute to significantly decreased risk for suicide attempts and hospitalization during follow-up relative to treatment as usual (TAU). 3. Greater ambivalence about suicide and faster recall of reasons for living will mediate the relationship between intervention and reduced risk for suicide attempt during follow-up.

Primary Outcome

Suicide attempts were assessed using the Suicide Attempt Self Injury Interview (SASII; Linehan et al., 2006). The SASII is a valid and reliable clinician-administered interview for categorizing suicide-related and self-injurious behaviors. Suicide attempt was defined as behavior that is self-directed and deliberately results in injury or the potential for injury to oneself for which there is evidence, whether implicit or explicit, of suicidal intent

Interventions

• BEHAVIORAL Treatment As Usual (TAU)
• BEHAVIORAL Standard Crisis Response Plan (S-CRP)
• BEHAVIORAL Enhanced Crisis Response Plan (E-CRP)