Piloting a Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) Group Intervention for Suicidal Behavior Among Active-Duty Military Personnel

In this clinical trial we test a new therapeutic intervention for suicidal behavior among active duty service members: Group Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (G-BCBT). Adapted from a best practice individual therapy format of BCBT, G-BCBT comprises12 90-minute sessions. Following an individualized crisis response plan, service members partake in weekly group therapy sessions to build coping skills in three areas: (1) emotion regulation, (2) cognitive flexibility, and (3) relapse prevention. The underlying framework showing how these areas reduce suicidal behavior is called the suicidal mode. In this clinical trial we examine the influence of three pre-existing characteristics as they may influence G-BCBT effectiveness: (1) coping self efficacy, (2) behavioral inhibition, and (3) emotion regulation skills. Importantly, the current project phase was devoted completely to setting-up logistics for the clinical trial; no patients have been enrolled nor any data analyses conducted yet.