Pilot study of the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality-Group

Introduction: Few evidence-based options exist for outpatient treatment of patients at risk of suicide, and to-date almost all research has focused on individually delivered psychotherapy. Group therapy for veterans at risk of suicide is a promising alternative.

Methods: Thirty veterans receiving care at an urban Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the southern United States were randomized to either care as usual (CAU) or to CAU plus the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicide-Group (CAMS-G). Veterans were assessed prior to randomization to condition and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-randomization on a range of suicide-specific measures, burdensomeness, belonging, treatment satisfaction, and group cohesion.

Results: Across measures and follow-up assessments, veterans in CAMS-G reported good satisfaction with the intervention, a sense of cohesion with other members of the group, and reduced symptom distress. Veterans in both conditions reported decreases in suicidal ideation and behavior, with CAMS-G participants potentially improving slightly faster.

Conclusion: This description of CAMS-G for veterans adds to the growing literature on suicide-specific interventions and supports the need for additional research to determine if wide-spread rollout is justifiable.