Suicide Prevention After Community Care Discharge

NCT06596044 | Recruiting DMC

• 2 other identifiers: MHBC-003-24S101CX002797
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The study is of high importance to Veterans' health because it will study a suicide prevention intervention in a Veteran population that is at high risk of suicide but has not been a specific focus of the Veteran Affairs' (VA's) suicide prevention efforts. Specifically, a growing number of Veterans are now receiving acute mental health treatment in VA-purchased settings (commonly referred to as Community Care). While these Veterans are at high risk of suicide after discharge, very little is known about how to prevent suicide in these Veterans. This study will directly address this problem by looking at whether a promising suicide prevention strategy called the VA Brief Intervention and Contact Program (VA BIC) can decrease the risk of suicide in Veterans after they are discharged from a non-VA mental health treatment setting. The proposed research is highly pertinent to the VA's top clinical priority-to prevent suicide in Veterans.

Conditions

Suicide Prevention

Keywords

Mental health education; Clinical trial; Suicidal ideation; Suicide, attempted; Self-injurious Behavior; Suicide; Suicide Prevention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Suicidal Ideation: The Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS)

  The Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS) is a self-reported, 21-item scale that assesses symptoms of suicidal ideation. The total score ranges from 0-38. While there is no established BSS cutoff score to classify suicide risk, there is evidence that higher scores on the BSS correspond to more severe suicidal ideation and that a change of five points or more on the total BSS scores may be clinically relevant.

  Baseline to 9 months post-baseline

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Mental Healthcare Utilization: The number of mental health visits attended

  Baseline to 3 months post-baseline

• Patient perception of ability to cope with suicidal behavior: The Suicide-Related Coping Scale (SRCS)

  Baseline to 9 months post-baseline

• Social Connectedness: Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire-15 (INQ-15)

  Baseline to 9 months post-baseline

• Suicide Attempt Events: Fatal and non-Fatal Suicide Attempts

  Baseline to 9 months post-baseline

Study Arms (2)

VA BIC

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients randomized to VA BIC will receive the VA BIC intervention plus standard care

Behavioral: VA BIC; Other: Standard Care

Standard Care

OTHER

Patients randomized to the control arm will receive standard care alone.

Other: Standard Care

Interventions

VA BIC BEHAVIORAL

VA BIC is a suicide prevention strategy that is designed to meet the needs of Veterans who receive acute psychiatric treatment. VA BIC can be delivered by a trained mental health provider (e.g., mental health nurse, social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist). VA BIC includes two synergistic elements to support the patient after a mental health discharge. The elements include a brief educational session, where the patient receives a one-on-one, one-hour, personalized educational session on suicide prevention. The session incorporates aspects of motivational interviewing. The patient then receives 7 regular follow-up contacts that are conducted by the interventionist. Here the interventionist monitors symptoms, assesses treatment adherence, reviews the safety plan, and assists the patient with engaging in steps to promote their well-being. The sessions incorporate aspects of motivational interviewing. Of note patients in this arm will also receive standard care.

VA BIC

Standard Care OTHER

Regardless of study assignment, all patients will have access to standard care provided upon mental health discharge in non-VA settings. VA staff will also follow standard procedures for mitigating risk including placing Veterans on high risk list when clinically appropriate.

Standard Care; VA BIC

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Veteran who is eligible to receive VA services;
• years or older;
• able to speak English;
• received acute psychiatric treatment in a non-VA setting affiliated with VA in Northern New England;
• endorse recent suicidal ideation (score 2+ on Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation).

You may not qualify if:

• Unable to provide informed consent;
• Currently receiving assertive community treatment;
• Potentially vulnerable populations including prisoners, institutionalized patients, or patients currently admitted on involuntary commitment status;
• Study physician deems the patient is not clinically appropriate because of clinical status such as presence of active psychosis or dementia.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center: collaborator
• VA Office of Research and Development: lead

Study Sites (1)

White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT

White River Junction, Vermont, 05001-3833, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Suicide Prevention; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide, Attempted; Self-Injurious Behavior; Suicide

Interventions

Standard of Care

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Quality Indicators, Health Care; Quality of Health Care; Health Services Administration; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation

Study Officials

• Natalie Riblet, MD MPH

  White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Natalie Riblet, MD MPH

CONTACT

(802) 295-9363; Natalie.Riblet@va.gov

Bradley V Watts, MD MPH

CONTACT

(802) 295-9363; Bradley.Watts@va.gov

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The outcome assessor will be blinded to treatment allocation and will remind the participant at each contact to not disclose their treatment status.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: FED
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants are assigned to one of two groups in parallel: VA BIC plus standard care vs. standard care alone

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 3, 2024
• First Posted: September 19, 2024
• Study Start: October 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2028
• Last Updated: April 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)