High Risk Suicidal Behavior in Veterans - Assessment of Predictors and Efficacy of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Abstract
Approximately one third of the Armys completed suicides last year occurred in the post-deployment period (Alvarez 2009) highlighting the importance of studying high-risk suicidal veteran populations. This project proposes two related studies. The first project is a randomized clinical trial of 120 veterans identified with high-risk suicidal behavior comparing the efficacy of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) vs. treatment as usual (TAU) on suicidal behavior as a primary outcome measure. A second aim of the project is to examine group differences between 150 veterans at high risk (HR) for suicide and 150 veterans at low risk (LR) in a variety of symptom domains. The randomized clinical trial was completed with 93 subjects. Results were notable for improvements in suicidality and secondary outcomes of depression, hopelessness and anxiety in both treatment groups, however there was not a significant difference between the treatment groups. DBT subjects did receive significantly more hours of treatment and for homeless, substance abusing males, there was considerable early drop-out in both arms. Our supplemental funding is to study affective startle as potential marker of suicide risk and as a marker of treatment outcome. Affective startle does significantly differ between Veteran ideators, single and multiple attempters. We collected additional female Veteran samples in a no-cost extension in order to perform gender sub-analyses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1003074
Entities
People
- Erin Hazlett
- Marianne Goodman
Organizations
- VA Boston Healthcare System