ASSIP - Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program: A Manual for Clinicians

Konrad Michel; MD, Prof.;Psychiatrist, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Bern, Switzerland.Anja Gysin-Maillart; PhD;Clinical psychologist, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Bern, Switzerland.

A prior nonfatal [Suicide] attempt is one of the most reliable predictors for a future attempt. The Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) provides a time-limited option that targets not only the factors contributing to the suicidal crisis, but also the need for interpersonal connection after the crisis occurs.;"A primary strength of this intervention is that it is grounded in evidence-based theory and practice. The ongoing contact over the course of two years... although a small effort, can cause large reductions in future attempts.; "Overall, this manual is an important step in providing brief interventions for attempt survivors immediately following a suicidal crisis, and it provides tangible efforts to clinicians who may not feel equipped to help them."; Reviewed by Laura M. Frey, Ph.D., LMFT, full text available at the web site of the American Association of Suicidology;

• 1 Introduction2 Suicide and Attempted Suicide2.1 Definitions2.2 Epidemiology: Suicide; Attempted Suicide; Risk and Protective Factors2.3 Models of Suicidal Behavior: Medical; Biological; Sociocultural; Psychological2.4 Prevention of Suicidal Behavior: Universal, Selective, and Indicated Strategies2.5 Attempted Suicide - Psychological Treatments: Problems;Outreach Interventions; Cognitive Behavioral; Emotion Regulation2.6 Pharmacotherapy2.7 Conclusions3 ASSIP Therapist Manual3.1 Therapeutic Concepts in ASSIP: Building a Therapeutic Alliance; Long-Term Anchoring;Suicide Is an Action, Not an Illness; Narrative Interviewing; What Patients Tell Us;The Suicidal Mode3.2 ASSIP - The Basics: Objectives and Treatment Settings; Therapy Process Factors inASSIP; ASSIP Step by Step3.3 ASSIP Therapy Sessions3.4 First Session: Conducting a Narrative Interview3.5 Second Session: Video Playback3.6 Third Session: Formulating the Patterns Leading to the Suicidal Crisis3.7 Fourth Session (Optional): Reexposure3.8 Ongoing Contact by Regular Letters3.9 Difficulties That May Arise in the Practical use of ASSIP3.10 Future ProspectsReferencesAppendices:Information Sheet for PatientsInformation Sheet for Health ProfessionalsHomework Text: "Suicide Is Not a Rational Act"Assessment of Suicide RiskSuicide Status Form (SSF-III)Consent Form for Video RecordingCase Examples 1 and 2Standardized Letters 1-6