An Open Trial of Motivational Interviewing to Address Suicidal Ideation with Hospitalized Veterans

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this open trial was to test the acceptability of Motivational Interviewing to Address Suicidal Ideation (MI-SI) for psychiatrically hospitalized veterans with suicidal ideation, estimate its pre-post effect size on the severity of suicidal ideation, and examine the rate of treatment engagement after discharge.

Methods

Participants received a screening assessment, baseline assessment, one or two MI-SI sessions, post-treatment assessment, and 60-day follow-up assessment. Thirteen veterans were enrolled, nine (70%) completed both MI-SI sessions and the post-treatment assessment, and eleven (85%) completed the follow-up assessment.

Results

Participants found MI-SI to be acceptable. They experienced large reductions in the severity of suicidal ideation at post-treatment and follow-up. In the two months following discharge, 73% of participants completed two or more mental health or substance abuse treatment sessions each month.

Conclusions

These preliminary findings suggest that MI-SI has potential to reduce risk for suicide in psychiatrically hospitalized veterans and that a more rigorous trial is needed.