Deaf CBT-TS for Suicide Risk

Overseen By Aileen Aldalur, Ph.D. Clinical Psychology

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Rochester

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a short, Zoom-based intervention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treatment-Seeking for Deaf Individuals (Deaf CBT-TS) can change beliefs about mental health treatment and increase treatment-seeking behaviors in Deaf adults with untreated mental health or alcohol use problems. It will also see if Deaf CBT-TS may reduce suicide risk and explore factors that may increase the effectiveness of Deaf CBT-TS. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does Deaf CBT-TS increase positive beliefs about treatment and increase treatment-seeking behaviors?

* Does Deaf CBT-TS increase hope and reduce mental health symptoms, suicide ideation, and alcohol use?

* Is Deaf CBT-TS more effective for individuals with less cultural stress compared to those with high levels of cultural stress?

* Is Deaf CBT-TS more effective for Deaf individuals in residential areas with more Deaf resources than those with less Deaf resources? Researchers will compare individuals who complete Deaf CBT-TS to those on a waitlist to see if Deaf CBT-TS works to increase positive beliefs about treatment and treatment-seeking behaviors.

Participants will:

* Complete a baseline assessment including demographic information, measures of hope, general mental health and functioning, alcohol use, suicide ideation, cultural stress, and beliefs about treatment.

* Receive Deaf CBT-TS (2 sessions) or be placed on a waitlist with the option of receiving Deaf CBT-Ts after 4 months

* Complete two follow-up assessments in 2 and 4 months.

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Deaf adults with untreated mental health or alcohol use problems who have not yet sought treatment. It's designed to help those at risk of suicide and living in areas with varying levels of resources for the Deaf community. Participants must be willing to undergo assessments and attend therapy sessions via Zoom.

Inclusion Criteria

Self-identify as Deaf or hard of hearing (any degree of hearing loss)

Positive screen for one or more mental health disorders including depression (PHQ-9 > 10), anxiety (GAD-7 > 10), posttraumatic stress disorder (PCL-5 > 31), insomnia (ISI > 15), or alcohol use disorder (AUDIT > 16)

No current professional mental health or alcohol specialty treatment (e.g., counseling, psychiatric services) per standardized self-report

Exclusion Criteria

Current alcohol withdrawal necessitating medical evaluation

I cannot communicate in American Sign Language.

I am not in a psychiatric crisis that requires emergency or hospital care.

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Deaf CBT-TS

Trial Overview The trial tests a Zoom-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program called Deaf CBT-TS, specifically tailored for the Deaf community. It aims to improve attitudes towards seeking mental health treatment, reduce symptoms related to PTSD, anxiety, depression, alcoholism, and lower suicide risk.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Deaf CBT-TS Intervention Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Intervention Group

Group II: Waitlist Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

During study assessments, subjects will receive a suicide risk assessment, with actions commensurate with risk level, and a list of Deaf crisis intervention resources with instructions provided on how to use them. The list of resources contains crisis hotlines that are accessible for Deaf individuals including text-based options (e.g., Crisis Text line, 988 text number) and options to talk with counselors in ASL (e.g., 988 ASL services, DeafLEAd Crisis Line). The study coordinator will review each resource and explain their use. Subjects will be emailed this list of resources after their assessment. Other brief interventions that could be provided based on subject presentation include encouraging subjects to seek social support and share their thoughts with others; elicitation of coping strategies; and lethal means safety planning.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Rochester

Lead Sponsor

Trials

883

Recruited

555,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+