A virtual, pilot randomized trial of a brief intervention to prevent suicide in an integrated healthcare setting.

OBJECTIVE: Patients who die by suicide are often seen in primary care settings in the weeks leading to their death. There has been little study of brief interventions to prevent suicide in these settings. METHOD: We conducted a virtual, pilot, randomized controlled trial of a brief suicide prevention strategy called Veterans Affairs Brief Intervention and Contact Program (VA BIC) in patients who presented to a primary care mental health walk-in clinic for a new mental health intake appointment and were at risk for suicide. Our primary aim was to assess feasibility. We measured our ability to recruit 20 patients. We measured the proportion of enrolled patients who completed all study assessments. We assessed adherence among patients assigned to VA BIC. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled and 95% (N = 19) completed all study assessments. Among the 10 patients assigned to VA BIC, 90% (N = 9) of patients completed all required intervention visits, and 100% (N = 10) completed ≥70% of the required interventions visits. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to conduct a virtual trial of VA BIC in an integrated care setting. Future research should clarify the role of VA BIC as a suicide prevention strategy in integrated care settings using an adequately powered design. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04054947.

The reinforcing value of alcohol in a drinking to cope paradigm.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use is often regarded as a means of coping with sadness and distress. The present research was conducted to explore the relation between negative mood and the reinforcing value of alcohol, while clarifying the role of coping motives. METHODS: Participants with a history of recent alcohol use (N=44; 72% female) attended a laboratory session and were randomly assigned to either a negative (n=22) or a neutral (n=22) mood condition. A manipulation check confirmed that participants in the negative mood condition, but not the neutral mood condition, displayed a significant increase in negative affect. The multiple choice procedure (MCP) was used to measure the reinforcing value of alcohol after the mood manipulation. RESULTS: Regression models employing the MCP crossover point as the dependent variable and mood condition (neutral or negative) and drinking to cope as predictors indicated that a model with an interaction term accounted for the most variance. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the relation between mood and the reinforcing value of alcohol is moderated by drinking to cope, and help clarify the conditions under which drinking to cope may lead to negative outcomes.