Full access
Brief Reports
Published Online: 12 May 2021

A Pilot Randomized Trial of a Brief Intervention to Prevent Suicide After Inpatient Psychiatric Discharge

Natalie B. Riblet, M.D., M.P.H., Susan P. Stevens, Psy.D., Bradley V. Watts, M.D., M.P.H., Jiang Gui, Ph.D., Jenna Forehand, M.D., M.P.H., Sarah Cornelius, B.S., Robert Powell, M.D., Karen Lewicki, M.D., J.D., Danuta Wasserman, M.D. Ph.D., and Brian Shiner, M.D., M.P.H.Authors Info & Affiliations
Publication: Psychiatric Services
Volume 72, Number 11
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.202000537
Track CitationsAdd to favorites
PDF/EPUBFormats

Abstract

Objective:

Risk for suicide is high after psychiatric hospitalization. The World Health Organization’s Brief Intervention and Contact (BIC) program has shown efficacy in preventing suicide. A version adapted for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was studied to determine preliminary effects.

Methods:

Patients receiving psychiatric hospitalization because of acute risk for self-harm were randomly assigned to the VA BIC or standard care alone. Effect sizes (Hedges’ g) for suicidal ideation (primary outcome), social connectedness (measured as thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness), hopelessness, and engagement were calculated at 1 and 3 months.

Results:

Patients were randomly assigned to the VA BIC (N=10) or standard care (N=9). The VA BIC had a medium or large effect on most measures at 1 month (suicidal ideation, g=0.45). Effects diminished at 3 months, except for thwarted belongingness (g=0.81).

Conclusions:

The VA BIC had meaningful effects on suicide-related outcomes. The largest effect was seen in the first month.

Formats available

You can view the full content in the following formats:

View PDF/EPUBView Full Text

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric Services
Go to Psychiatric Services
Psychiatric Services
Volume 72 • Number 11 • November 01, 2021
Pages: 1320 - 1323
PubMed: 33979200

History

Received: 15 July 2020
Revision received: 29 October 2020
Revision received: 10 December 2020
Accepted: 8 January 2021
Published online: 12 May 2021
Published in print: November 01, 2021

Keywords

  1. suicide
  2. inpatient hospitalization
  3. treatment engagement
  4. motivational interviewing
  5. transitions of care
  6. discharge planning

Authors

Details

Natalie B. Riblet, M.D., M.P.H.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Forehand, Cornelius, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Gui, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); VA Office of Systems Redesign and Improvement, White River Junction, Vermont (Watts); National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health, and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research, Methods, Development and Training in Suicide Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Wasserman).Send correspondence to Dr. Riblet ([email protected]).
View all articles by this author
Susan P. Stevens, Psy.D.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Forehand, Cornelius, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Gui, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); VA Office of Systems Redesign and Improvement, White River Junction, Vermont (Watts); National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health, and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research, Methods, Development and Training in Suicide Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Wasserman).Send correspondence to Dr. Riblet ([email protected]).
View all articles by this author
Bradley V. Watts, M.D., M.P.H.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Forehand, Cornelius, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Gui, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); VA Office of Systems Redesign and Improvement, White River Junction, Vermont (Watts); National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health, and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research, Methods, Development and Training in Suicide Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Wasserman).Send correspondence to Dr. Riblet ([email protected]).
View all articles by this author
Jiang Gui, Ph.D.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Forehand, Cornelius, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Gui, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); VA Office of Systems Redesign and Improvement, White River Junction, Vermont (Watts); National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health, and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research, Methods, Development and Training in Suicide Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Wasserman).Send correspondence to Dr. Riblet ([email protected]).
View all articles by this author
Jenna Forehand, M.D., M.P.H.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Forehand, Cornelius, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Gui, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); VA Office of Systems Redesign and Improvement, White River Junction, Vermont (Watts); National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health, and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research, Methods, Development and Training in Suicide Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Wasserman).Send correspondence to Dr. Riblet ([email protected]).
View all articles by this author
Sarah Cornelius, B.S.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Forehand, Cornelius, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Gui, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); VA Office of Systems Redesign and Improvement, White River Junction, Vermont (Watts); National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health, and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research, Methods, Development and Training in Suicide Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Wasserman).Send correspondence to Dr. Riblet ([email protected]).
View all articles by this author
Robert Powell, M.D.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Forehand, Cornelius, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Gui, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); VA Office of Systems Redesign and Improvement, White River Junction, Vermont (Watts); National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health, and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research, Methods, Development and Training in Suicide Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Wasserman).Send correspondence to Dr. Riblet ([email protected]).
View all articles by this author
Karen Lewicki, M.D., J.D.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Forehand, Cornelius, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Gui, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); VA Office of Systems Redesign and Improvement, White River Junction, Vermont (Watts); National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health, and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research, Methods, Development and Training in Suicide Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Wasserman).Send correspondence to Dr. Riblet ([email protected]).
View all articles by this author
Danuta Wasserman, M.D. Ph.D.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Forehand, Cornelius, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Gui, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); VA Office of Systems Redesign and Improvement, White River Junction, Vermont (Watts); National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health, and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research, Methods, Development and Training in Suicide Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Wasserman).Send correspondence to Dr. Riblet ([email protected]).
View all articles by this author
Brian Shiner, M.D., M.P.H.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Forehand, Cornelius, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire (Riblet, Stevens, Watts, Gui, Powell, Lewicki, Shiner); VA Office of Systems Redesign and Improvement, White River Junction, Vermont (Watts); National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health, and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research, Methods, Development and Training in Suicide Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Wasserman).Send correspondence to Dr. Riblet ([email protected]).
View all articles by this author

Competing Interests

The authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard
Tips for downloading citations

View Options

View options

PDF/EPUB

View PDF/EPUB

Full Text

View Full Text

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login
Item saved, go to cart
Purchase Options

Purchase this article to access the full text.

PPV Articles - Psychiatric Services

PPV Articles - Psychiatric Services

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share

×

As described within the American Psychiatric Association (APA)'s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences. Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.