BACKGROUND

Preventing veteran suicide requires addressing mechanisms driving suicidal behavior, such as emotion dysregulation. Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Groups (DBT-SG) are well established for reducing emotion dysregulation, improving coping skills, and in some studies, reducing suicide attempt, but will require implementation support to deliver DBT-SG and to test its effectiveness within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

METHODS

We conducted a mixed-method developmental formative evaluation of DBT-SG at four VHA medical centers, guided by the Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework, as part of a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial (Clinical trials ID, NCT05000749).

RESULTS

Quantitative Organizational Reasons for Change Assessment data ( = 30 VHA staff) and qualitative data ( = 35 VHA staff) were merged, compared, and triangulated. Quantitative and qualitative data largely converged, showing favorable views of evidence supporting DBT-SG and strong enthusiasm for its potential to reduce veteran suicide attempt. Staff noted DBT-SG's broad applicability to veterans. Staff were less optimistic about the inner context supporting DBT-SG implementation, commenting on how limited staffing could be a barrier despite leadership wanting to support suicide prevention.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation barriers to DBT-SG at VHA include limited staffing, despite staff enthusiasm. The next phase of this project will evaluate DBT-SG effectiveness in a randomized controlled trial.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05000749, identifier NCT05000749.