Work

Conducting Research with Individuals at Risk for Suicide: Protocol for Assessment and Risk Management

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Suicide prediction, prevention, and intervention are urgent research areas. One barrier for research with high-risk populations is limited resources to manage risk in a research setting. We describe using the University of Washington Risk Assessment Protocol (UWRAP) to assess and manage suicide risk during phone-administered eligibility assessments in two clinical trials. METHOD: Study 1 (N = 151) recruited suicidal adults who were not engaged in mental health treatment and Study 2 (N = 135) recruited suicidal adults who used alcohol to regulate emotions. Pre- and postassessment ratings of stress, urge to harm self, urge to use drugs/alcohol, and intent to harm self were compared and strategies to manage increased suicide risk following screening interviews were implemented, as indicated. RESULTS: In both studies, average postassessment ratings were significantly lower than pre-assessment. A minority of participants reported higher ratings on one or more domains; however, following more thorough suicide risk assessment, risk was appropriately managed by providing low-level interventions (e.g., validation). CONCLUSIONS: Suicide risk in research involving community participants can be managed by using appropriate risk protocols.

Source: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior

DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12602

Authors: Erin F. Ward‐Ciesielski, Chelsey R. Wilks

Institutions: Hofstra University, University of Washington, Harvard University

Language: English

Topic: Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: American Psychological Association, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Mental Health