ACT for Life: a Brief Intervention for Maximizing Recovery After Suicidal Crises

Summary

An estimated 20 Veterans kill themselves every day. Suicide prevention literature and public health policy both call for treatment targeting high-risk populations, such as Veterans hospitalized due to suicidal intent and/or attempts. Psychiatric hospitalization is a critical opportunity to provide treatment to reduce the risk of suicide and lay the groundwork for functional recovery. Yet, there are no interventions specifically for suicide prevention that meet Veterans Health Affairs' quality recommendations requiring the provision of evidence-based, recovery-oriented psychotherapy, which are also feasible to use during a typical inpatient stay. The proposed study seeks to take a first step toward filling this gap. In consultation with experts in the field, the authors have developed a protocol applying a recovery-oriented, evidence-based treatment approach to Veteran inpatient care. The proposed pilot study will provide critical information to inform final revisions of the treatment manual and research design for a future study evaluating the efficacy of the intervention.

Conditions

• Suicide
• Psychiatric Rehabilitation

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

ACT for Life

A novel protocol detailing the application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to recovery from suicidal crises. Consists of three modules designed to be delivered in three to four 60-minute individual talk therapy sessions. Nearly all of the metaphors and experiential exercises are adaptations of core ACT techniques included in various empirically-supported applications of ACT to other health conditions. Additionally, the adjunctive intervention is designed to augment safety planning (a hierarchical list of strategies to recognize and cope with a suicidal crisis).

OTHER

Treatment as usual

All participants will be able to engage in treatment as usual. Psychiatric inpatient care typically consists of behavioral mental health group and/or individual therapy and pharmacological treatment. Outpatient care is offered upon discharge. This typically consists of both group and individual therapy and medication management.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VA Office of Research and Development

  lead FED

Principal Investigators

• Sean Michael Barnes, PhD · Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

89 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-11-15

Primary Completion

2018-08-09

Completion

2018-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations