Assertive case management (ACM), which uses structured, proactive follow-up to monitor suicide risk and support treatment engagement, has shown potential to improve treatment adherence and continuity of care. Most previous studies have focused on patients following a suicide attempt. A South Korean randomized clinical trial evaluated hospital-based ACM as an adjunct to standard psychiatric treatment in 314 outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who had suicidal ideation or a recent suicide attempt, with a mean age of 32.3 years.
During 6 months of follow-up, the ACM group showed a significantly greater reduction in Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) total scores than the usual care group (mean change, −9.22 vs −7.23). Greater improvements were also observed in depressive symptoms , measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (−9.19 vs −6.23), suicidal…
