Aftercare Focus Study (AFS): A Clinical Trial to Reduce Short-Term Suicide Risk After Hospitalization

Aftercare Focus Study (AFS): A Clinical Trial to Reduce Short-Term Suicide Risk After Hospitalization

Increasingly, the period after hospital admission is acknowledged as one of extremely high risk for suicidal patients. While it might be hoped that hospitalization would address and resolve suicide risk, a review of international studies shows the risk of suicide is up to 200 times higher among individuals recently discharged from hospitals vs. the general population. In response, some health care systems use an "urgent care" or "next-day appointment" (NDA) clinics for follow-up. NDAs serve as short-term crisis intervention at a specific appointment time and location so patients do not "fall through the cracks" in the care transition. Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) is a potentially effective intervention to reduce short term suicidal risk in this transition from inpatient to outpatient treatment. To this end, this study has the following study aims: (1) Evaluate whether CAMS for suicidal NDA patients results in less suicidal behavior than TAU, (2) Evaluate whether CAMS for suicidal NDA patients results in less suicidal ideation and intent as well as improved mental health markers than TAU, and (3) Evaluate whether CAMS for suicidal NDA patients is more satisfactory to patients than TAU.

Increasingly, the period after hospital admission is acknowledged as one of extremely high risk for suicidal patients. While it might be hoped that hospitalization would address and resolve suicide risk, a review of international studies shows the risk of suicide is up to 200 times higher among individuals recently discharged from hospitals vs. the general population. In response, some health care systems use an "urgent care" or "next-day appointment" (NDA) clinics for follow-up. NDAs serve as short-term crisis intervention at a specific appointment time and location so patients do not "fall through the cracks" in the care transition. Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) is a promising outpatient treatment framework that merits rigorous study as a potentially effective intervention to reduce short term suicidal risk in the transition from inpatient to outpatient treatment. Pilot data suggest that CAMS decreases suicidal ideation and psychological distress while increasing hope, patient satisfaction, and retention more than NDA treatment as usual (TAU). CAMS in the NDA clinic has the potential to fill three key targets highlighted in the 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: (1) prevent suicidal behavior, (2) increase clinician confidence and willingness to see suicidal patients, and (3) are sufficiently feasible, trainable, adaptable, and flexible to scale up across health systems. To this end, this study has the following study aims: (1) Evaluate whether CAMS for suicidal NDA patients results in less suicidal behavior than TAU, (2) Evaluate whether CAMS for suicidal NDA patients results in less suicidal ideation and intent as well as improved mental health markers than TAU, and (3) Evaluate whether CAMS for suicidal NDA patients is more satisfactory to patients than TAU.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. inpatient or emergency service admission for suicidality or suicide attempt
2. lifetime suicide attempt
3. referring clinician determined that the patient did not have appropriate outpatient mental health appointment in the next two weeks (other than an NDA)
4. an NDA is an appropriate disposition plan
5. consented to all study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. under age 18
2. insufficient English to understand the study procedures and provide informed consent
3. too psychotic or manic, aggressive, or cognitively impaired such that outpatient therapy was not indicated
4. patient not stable enough to be discharged home for a minimum of 24 hours prior to study treatment
5. court-ordered to outpatient treatment
6. patient lived an impractical distance away