Change in "resolved plans" and "suicidal ideation" factors of suicidality after participation in an intensive outpatient treatment program.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate factors related to suicide in a unique clinical population with more chronic psychopathology than many outpatient samples.

METHOD: One hundred and five adult outpatients were included in the current study. We predicted that higher scores on the resolved plans and preparation (RPP) factor of the Beck Suicide Scale [Beck, A.T., Kovacs, M., Weissman, M., (1979). Assessment of suicidal intention: The scale for suicidal ideation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 47, 343-352] would predict multiple attempter status even after accounting for co-morbid diagnoses and suicidal ideation (SI) factor scores. Additionally, we predicted that the scores on the RPP factor would decrease less over time than scores on the SI factor.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Results were consistent with both hypotheses, suggesting that RPP factor scores were uniquely predictive of status as a multiple attempter and were more stable over time.

LIMITATIONS: Mental health diagnoses were rendered without the use of a structured interview and therefore no reliability data were collected.