A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) Versus Treatment as Usual (TAU) for Suicidal College Students.

This randomized controlled trial compared the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) and Treatment as Usual (TAU) for suicidal college students within a feasibility trial. Sixty-two suicidal college students were randomized to CAMS (n = 33) or TAU (n = 29). We hypothesized that those receiving CAMS would show more improvement in suicide-related measures, and effects would be moderated by borderline personality disorder (BPD), prior suicide attempts, and age. Both treatment groups showed improvements in all outcome variables; CAMS had a significantly higher impact on depression and suicidal ideation when measured weekly during care and was more likely than TAU to decrease hopelessness among students with fewer BPD features, no suicide attempt history, and older age. Conversely, TAU did better for students with BPD features and history of multiple suicide attempts.

Developing Adaptive Treatment Strategies to Address Suicidal Risk in College Students: A Pilot Sequential, Multiple Assignment, Randomized Trial (SMART).

This pilot study investigated the potential to utilize adaptive treatment strategies for treating moderate to severe suicidal risk among college students. This article will describe the unique study design and report on feasibility and acceptability findings. A 2-stage Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) was conducted: In Stage 1, 62 suicidal college students were randomized to either a suicide-focused or a treatment-as-usual condition (4-8 weeks). Those deemed insufficient responders were re-randomized to one of two Stage 2 interventions-both suicide-focused but one comprehensive and multimodal and the other flexible and theoretically agnostic (4-16 additional weeks). Recruitment rates were high, treatment dropout levels were lower than expected for the setting, study dropouts were rare, and counselors were able to deliver suicide-focused approaches with fidelity. Treatment satisfaction was high among clients and moderately high among counselors. Findings from this pilot show that a SMART is highly feasible and acceptable to suicidal college students, counselors, and campuses.

Treating Suicidality in College Counseling Centers: A Response to Polychronis.

This is a commentary on the article by Paul D. Polychronis, "Changes Across Three Editions of The Suicidal Patient: Clinical and Legal Standards of Care: Relevance to Counseling Centers," published in this issue of the Journal of College Student Psychotherapy.