Intensive Outpatient Treatment for Suicidal Veterans

Intensive Outpatient Treatment for Suicidal Veterans: A Randomized Clinical Trial and Feasibility Investigation

This investigation is a feasibility study conducted in a VA outpatient treatment setting. The study is designed to test the feasibility of implementing a novel way of working with suicidal patients, the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS). The primary purpose of the proposed project is to determine if it is possible to train clinicians working in the Mental Health Clinic at the Denver VA Medical Center (VAMC) to utilize this therapeutic framework. This project is extremely timely in relation to expectations of future increased clinical demands among potentially high-risk Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans who may become suicidal in the years to come.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Suicidality endorsed during the regular Mental Health intake interview or at the time of admission.
2. Over the age of 18 years.
3. New or returning patients to the VA MHC.
4. Living within the larger Denver metropolitan region during the duration of the treatment.
5. Willing to travel to the ECHCS Denver VAMC at times other than scheduled therapy appointments to complete follow-up assessment measures.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Psychosis that would interfere with an individual's ability to provide informed consent.
2. Imminent suicidality with the need for immediate psychiatric hospitalization, as defined above in the Background section, at the time of MH intake.
3. Current involuntary status for psychiatric hospitalization.
4. Inability to adequately respond to questions regarding the informed consent procedure. See Special Consent Issues section below.