Pathfinding for Suicide Prevention
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial aims to determine if a new program, Pathfinding, can reduce suicidal behavior in soldiers recently discharged from psychiatric care. The study compares the usual post-discharge care with the addition of Pathfinding, which provides extra support through telehealth. Soldiers discharged from military psychiatric treatment who have access to a phone or computer may be suitable candidates for this study. The goal is to assess whether Pathfinding is more effective than usual care and to identify which soldiers benefit most. As an unphased trial, this study presents a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance support for soldiers transitioning from psychiatric care.
What prior data suggests that the Pathfinding intervention is safe for soldiers?
Research has shown that telehealth programs like Pathfinding are generally well-received. Studies have found that these digital programs can effectively lower suicidal behavior. For example, one study showed that telehealth interventions significantly reduced suicide rates, with a 32% decrease in suicide attempts among users of similar programs.
Pathfinding combines two trusted programs—one for individuals leaving psychiatric care and another for managing high-risk situations. This approach builds on successful methods. Additionally, similar telehealth programs have been well-accepted by participants, integrating easily into their daily routines.
Overall, existing evidence supports that Pathfinding is safe and could help reduce suicidal behaviors. Participants in similar programs have reported few negative effects, indicating these programs are generally safe to try.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about Pathfinding for suicide prevention because it combines two evidence-based case management programs and tailors them specifically for active duty soldiers. Unlike standard care, which typically involves discharge planning and risk assessment, Pathfinding offers a 6-month telehealth intervention that addresses key suicide risk factors like social connection and problem-solving. Additionally, it focuses on unmet needs in various life areas such as legal and financial issues, providing a more holistic support system. This remote, guided approach could enhance treatment engagement and reduce suicide risk more effectively than traditional methods.
What evidence suggests that the Pathfinding intervention could be effective for suicide prevention?
Research has shown that suicide prevention programs can reduce suicidal thoughts and actions. One study found that creating a safety plan for suicide prevention lowered both suicidal behavior and thoughts. Another study discovered that therapy reduced suicidal thoughts by 55% and suicide attempts by 37.5%. Additionally, social support has greatly decreased the risk of suicide. In this trial, the Pathfinding program, which participants may receive, uses these proven methods to support soldiers as they leave inpatient care. This suggests that Pathfinding could effectively lower the risk of suicide among soldiers who have recently been discharged.678910
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Baseline Assessment
Participants complete a baseline assessment of their health, experiences, and characteristics
Treatment
Participants receive either Treatment As Usual (TAU) or TAU plus the 6-month Pathfinding case management intervention
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for suicide-related behaviors and other outcomes through follow-up assessments and EHR data
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Pathfinding
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Pathfinding is a 6-month, adjunctive, telehealth intervention that integrates 2 evidence-based case management programs and adapts them for active duty soldiers: Coping Long Term with Active Suicide Program (CLASP), a case management intervention for suicidal patients transitioning out of psychiatric hospitals; and Critical Time Intervention (CTI), a more general case management intervention for high-risk transitions out restrictive environments. Administered remotely by a centrally trained \& supervised team of "Guides." Focuses on key suicide risk factors (e.g., treatment engagement, social connection, problem-solving) and unmet needs across life domains (e.g., legal, financial, housing, and relationships). Participants receive Pathfinding in addition to standard post-discharge care (see TAU intervention description for details).
Treatment As Usual (TAU) is the Army's standard care for soldiers discharged from inpatient psychiatric treatment. It involves discharge planning, risk assessment, and referrals (as detailed in the TAU intervention description).
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Lead Sponsor
Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM)
Collaborator
University of Michigan
Collaborator
Citations
Effectiveness of Suicide Safety Planning Interventions - PMC
Evidence across a range of studies indicates that SSP is effective for reducing suicide behavior (SB) and ideation (SI).
Effectiveness of Psychotherapy on Suicidal Risk - PMC - NIH
Despite the between-study heterogeneity, interventions lead to a reduction in suicidal outcomes, i.e., suicidal ideation (55.0%) and suicide attempts (37.5%).
Suicide Care in Systems Framework
The following is the final report of the Clinical Care and Intervention Task Force. The report summarizes the results of the investigative process used by the ...
Methods and efficacy of social support interventions in ... - PMC
The number of suicides was significantly reduced in the intervention group (risk ratio (RR)=0.48, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.85). In 14 studies with a ...
5.
repository.tilburguniversity.edu
repository.tilburguniversity.edu/bitstreams/bf0b9707-76b1-483c-8d75-8155a15f8048/downloadEffectiveness of Suicide Prevention Interventions
Serious Various interventions in different fields, therefore no clearly defined intervention; no outcome data at follow-up; missing data. Mousavi et al ...
Evaluation of a Telehealth Case Management Intervention ...
This study evaluates the effectiveness of Pathfinding, a 6-month, adjunctive, telehealth case management intervention, in decreasing suicide-related behaviors ...
Suicide prevention via telemental health services - PMC
Both Crisis Response Plan and self-guided Safety Planning were found to lower suicidality after receiving them via telehealth services.
SAFEGUARD: Transforming Military Suicide Prevention ...
Pathfinding delivers remote wrap-around case management after psychiatric inpatient discharge to soldiers identified as high-risk for SRBs.
a systematic review of digital suicide prevention tools - PMC
The effectiveness of digital interventions for suicide prevention is contingent upon user engagement, intervention design, and target population ...
Pilot implementation of a telehealth safety planning group ...
This qualitative study assessed the acceptability, feasibility, and impact of a telehealth suicide safety planning intervention (SPI) multi- ...
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