Culturally Adapted Stress Management for Preventing Suicide in Adolescents

Recruiting at 5 trial locations

Overseen By Leonard Jason, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: DePaul University

Disqualifiers: Not 9th grade, No permission

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

512 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Robinson's Culturally Adapted Coping with Stress Course (A-CWS) for preventing suicide in adolescents?

Research shows that the Adapted-Coping with Stress Course (A-CWS) significantly reduced suicide risk among African American adolescents, with an 86% relative reduction in suicide risk compared to standard care. The treatment was well-received and feasible, indicating its potential effectiveness in preventing suicide by addressing cultural stressors. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Culturally Adapted Coping with Stress Course (A-CWS) safe for adolescents?

The Adapted-Coping with Stress Course (A-CWS) has been found to be feasible and well-received by African American adolescents, indicating it is generally safe for this group. The intervention was implemented with a large sample of students, and no safety concerns were reported in the studies. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

How is the Robinson's Culturally Adapted Coping with Stress Course (A-CWS) treatment different from other treatments for preventing suicide in adolescents?

The A-CWS treatment is unique because it is specifically adapted to address the cultural nuances and stressors, such as systemic racism, that affect African American adolescents. It is a 15-session group-based intervention that focuses on enhancing coping skills and reducing suicidal thoughts by incorporating culturally relevant strategies, making it distinct from standard treatments that may not consider these cultural factors. ^{1 2 3 4 7}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The overarching aim of the Success Over Stress Prevention Project is to reduce African American youth suicide. This study examines the impact of a 15-session, group-delivered, culturally-grounded, cognitive-behavioral intervention (i.e., PI Robinson's Adapted-Coping with Stress Course \[A-CWS\]), on the outcomes of interest, when it is delivered by social workers who are indigenous to the school system. The main objectives of this project are to (a) determine whether the intervention is effective when facilitated by social workers who are indigenous to the school system and (b) enhance resilience, increase adaptive coping strategies, and reduce both intrapersonal and interpersonal violence among youth receiving the prevention intervention. It is expected that increases in adaptive coping will lead to an increased ability for youth to manage stressors, thereby decreasing the incidence of suicide and violence among the youth. In addition, it is expected that evidence of the intervention's effectiveness, when facilitated by social workers who are indigenous to the school system, will lead to greater dissemination and sustainability of the intervention, thus, providing access to effective intervention resources to greater numbers of African American youth.

Research Team

LaVome Robinson, PhD

Principal Investigator

DePaul University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for African American 9th graders enrolled in participating high schools. Their parents or guardians must consent to their participation, and teachers are involved if they have students in the study. It's not open to those who aren't in 9th grade at enrollment or lack parental permission.

Inclusion Criteria

Parents/guardians: Child enrolled in study

Teachers: Student enrolled in study

I am a 9th grader enrolled at a participating high school.

Exclusion Criteria

No parent/legal guardian permission

Not a 9th grade student at time of initial enrollment

For parents and teachers: no students enrolled in study

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive a 15-session, group-delivered, culturally-grounded, cognitive-behavioral intervention (A-CWS) delivered by social workers

15 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in suicide ideation, hope, adaptive coping, and hopelessness

6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Robinson's Culturally Adapted Coping with Stress Course (A-CWS)
• Standard Care Control Condition

Trial Overview The trial tests a culturally adapted stress coping course (A-CWS) taught by social workers from the school system against standard care. The goal is to see if it can boost resilience, improve coping strategies, and reduce violence and suicide among these youths.

Participant Groups

Group I: Robinson's Culturally Adapted Coping with Stress Course Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Standard Care Control Condition Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

DePaul University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

9

Recruited

8,500+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Culturally Grounded Stress Reduction and Suicide Prevention for African American Adolescents. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

African American adolescent suicidal ideation and behavior: The role of racism and prevention. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and piloting of a brief intervention for suicidal American Indian adolescents. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reducing suicidal ideation in African American adolescents: A randomized controlled clinical trial. [2023]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring risk and protective factors with a community sample of American Indian adolescents who attempted suicide. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A public health approach: Documenting the risk and protective factors of suicide ideation in one American Indian community. [2018]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

School Risk and Protective Factors of Suicide: A Cultural Model of Suicide Risk and Protective Factors in Schools. [2023]