OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the characteristics of suicide risk assessments completed using the Decision Tree framework both in and between psychotherapy sessions, clinical features of patients for whom between-session assessments are indicated, and data collected across assessments.
METHOD: Data were collected from 1,358 suicide risk assessments conducted with psychiatric outpatients (N = 41) at elevated suicide risk engaged in care at a psychology training clinic.
RESULTS: Participants completed an average of 4.75 (standard deviation = 4.95) suicide risk assessments (2.81 ± 4.43 between-session assessments) per each month in treatment. Assessment frequency and patient ratings of suicidal desire and intent were each significantly associated with therapist risk level categorizations.
CONCLUSION: The Decision Tree framework's in- and between-session assessments have the potential to be implemented in a routinized format among psychiatric outpatients at elevated suicide risk. Additional research is needed to establish the feasibility and clinical utility of this framework across samples and providers.