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

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) Crisis Response Plan (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 crisis response plan alone (CRP) and treatment as usual (TAU).

2. The E-CRP intervention will contribute to greater ambivalence about suicide and faster
recall of reasons for living relative to the CRP and TAU interventions.

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.