https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Crasta2023

Crasta, D., Funderburk, J. S., Gray, T. D., Cordova, J. V., & Britton, P. C. (2023). Brief relationship support as a selective suicide prevention intervention: Piloting the Relationship Checkup in veteran couples with relationship and mental health concerns. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 53(5), 787-801. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12983

Relationship Checkup is a brief couples’ intervention, consisting of 3 half-hour telehealth sessions guided by a therapist, designed to improve relationship quality. This pilot study assessed Relationship Checkup’s feasibility, safety, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness among 20 couples (i.e., Veterans and their partners) in which at least 1 partner was at risk for suicidality. Both partners reported their perception of relationship satisfaction, emotional intimacy, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, depressive symptoms, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) before and after the intervention. Relationship Checkup demonstrated feasibility, safety, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness for couples at risk for suicidality.

https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12983

Programming
Couples
Veterans
Mental health

Multiple branches

Veteran

Veteran
Spouse of service member or veteran

Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Quantitative Study

Crasta, Dev, Funderburk, Jennifer S., Gray, Tatiana D., Cordova, James V., Britton, Peter C.

Introduction Close relationship problems play a key role in many contemporary theories of suicide. However, the potential of relationship support in suicide prevention is understudied. This study explores the feasibility, safety, acceptability, and promise of utilizing the 3-session Relationship Checkup (RC) in veterans with mental health and romantic relationship concerns. Methods We conducted a single-arm pilot of telehealth RC in veterans with a positive mental health screen and their romantic partners. Couples completed baseline and post-treatment assessments of study outcomes. Results Feasibility analyses showed we were able to recruit an elevated-risk sample (30% history of attempts or interrupted attempts), take them through the service (90% treatment completion), and had minimal harm events (no suicidal behavior, no physical harm in arguments). Multimethod acceptability analyses suggested high satisfaction with the program, though some desired more intensive services. Couples reported improvements in relationship functioning, emotional intimacy, thwarted belongingness, depression, and posttraumatic stress. Perceived burdensomeness only improved for identified patients and drinking did not change for either partner. Conclusion The RC is a feasible, safe, and acceptable strategy for providing relationship support to couples at elevated risk. Although further randomized trials are needed, RC shows promise to reduce relationship-level and individual-level suicide risk factors.

Wiley Online

Article
REACH Publication

Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, US Department of Veterans Affairs, DC
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, DC
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, JSF
Center for Integrated Healthcare, Syracuse VA Medical Center, JSF
Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, JSF
Department of Psychology, Springfield College, Springfield, TDG
Department of Psychology, Clark University, JVC
Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, US Department of Veterans Affairs, PCB
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, PCB