Search

Objective: Develop and test the acceptability and feasibility of Problem-Solving Therapy for Suicide Prevention (PST-SP), a group intervention aimed at improving problem solving and preventing suicide, among Veterans with hopelessness and moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Research Method: Following treatment development, 16 U.S. Veterans with moderate-to-severe TBI and a Beck Hopelessness Scale score 4 participated in an acceptability and feasibility pilot study of PST-SP at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Participants completed the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8) and Narrative Evaluation of Intervention Interview (NEII) after participating in PST-SP. Results: PST-SP was developed for Veterans with moderate-to-severe TBI and hopelessness. 75% (n = 12) of participants enrolled in the pilot study attended ≥80% of PST-SP sessions. Participants reported high satisfaction with PST-SP (CSQ-8 M = 27.8 out of 32; SD = 4.78; range 14 -32) and described the intervention as valuable, beneficial, and without negative effects (NEII). Conclusions/Implications: Results from measures of acceptability and attendance suggest that PST-SP is an acceptable and feasible intervention for Veterans with hopelessness and moderate-to-severe TBI. Findings support readiness to examine efficacy of the intervention in a Phase II randomized controlled trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Research shows that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) independently increase suicide risk; however, scant research has investigated whether mTBI increases suicide risk above and beyond the risk associated with PTSD alone. Design: The current research compared suicide risk factors among a matched sample of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/ OIF) military personnel and veterans with PTSD alone or PTSD and a history of an mTBI. Results: Differences in the assessed risk factors were small and suggest that if PTSD and mTBI are associated with elevations in suicide risk relative to PTSD alone, the added risk is likely mediated or confounded by PTSD symptom severity. Conclusion: This finding highlights the importance of screening and treating military personnel and veterans for PTSD. Future explication of the impact of TBI-related impairments on suicide risk will be critical as we strive to ensure safety and optimize care for our military personnel and veterans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is a transdiagnostic risk factor for persistent physical and psychological symptoms relevant to veterans, such as postconcussive symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The Cognitive Anxiety Sensitivity Treatment (CAST) computerized intervention has been shown to reduce AS but has not been widely used among veterans. The purpose of this study was to assess the acceptability and feasibility of CAST among veterans with elevated AS and mTBI eligible to receive Veterans Health Administration (VHA) care. Design: Twenty-two veterans with mTBI, elevated cognitive AS, and history of deployment to Iraq and/or Afghanistan completed a single assessment and intervention session. Acceptability was assessed with the Client Satisfaction Quesitonnaire-8 (CSQ-8) and a qualitative interview. Measures of feasibility included study enrollment, ease of participation, and intervention completion. AS was assessed pre- and post-CAST completion. Results: Consistent with interview responses, 77.3% of participants' CSQ-8 scores indicated that veterans found the intervention acceptable. Technological issues, such as internet connectivity, decreased feasibility of consistently delivering the intervention in the research setting readily available to the study team. Decreases on pre-to-post intervention AS outcomes were observed. Conclusions: Acceptability of the CAST intervention in this sample was generally supported. Feasibility of implementing CAST in this study was limited by technological issues. Data did not indicate a critical need to revise content of the CAST intervention. Identified strategies for increasing the feasibility of future research and clinical implementation of CAST are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]