Short Intervention Program for Suicide Attempt

Recruiting at 2 trial locations

Overseen By Anthony R Pisani, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Rochester

Disqualifiers: Psychiatric instability, Non-English, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 9

Duration: 3 weeks

443 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Effective, brief, low-cost interventions for individuals who attempt suicide are needed to save lives and achieve the goals of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. In response to a National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) Notice of Interest, this time-sensitive proposal leverages an existing federal investment in Zero Suicide to test the effectiveness of a highly promising new treatment for recent suicide attempt survivors and learn how it works. If hypotheses are supported, the study will provide evidence of a brief, practical, and cost-effective therapy that reduces suicide reattempts in a real-world health setting.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults who have attempted suicide within the last 60 days and are willing to provide emergency contact information. Participants must be able to communicate in English, live in New York State during treatment, and not suffer from acute psychiatric instability like psychosis.

Inclusion Criteria

You have tried to harm or kill yourself in the last 60 days.

Ability and willingness to provide information and permission to contact at least one person in the case of a need to contact them to promote subject safety or inability to reach the subject for follow-up.

Exclusion Criteria

I can communicate in English.

Residing outside of NYS (during the period eligible for ASSIP).

You are currently experiencing severe mental health issues that affect your thinking and perception, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not real.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive the ASSIP intervention, a manualized 3-session therapy, delivered either in-person or via telehealth

3 weeks

3 visits (in-person or virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with assessments at multiple time points

18 months

Assessments at baseline, 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program
• Zero Suicide Usual Care

Trial Overview The study compares a new short intervention program designed for those who've recently attempted suicide against the standard Zero Suicide care. It aims to find an effective, brief, and low-cost therapy that can reduce future suicide attempts.

Participant Groups

Group I: Zero Suicide Usual Care + ASSIP Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients in this treatment arm will receive ASSIP brief therapy in addition to being able to access any usual care as recommended by their provider. ASSIP is a manualized, three-session intervention, delivered either in-person or via telehealth: In Session 1, the therapist guides the patient in telling the story of their attempt. The session is video recorded. In Session 2, the therapist and patient sit side-by-side to view selections of the video, working together to understand the feelings and events that preceded the attempt. The patient is assigned a homework task. In Session 3, the therapist and patient create a summary of the suicide attempt and what led up to it, along with creating a personal safety plan.

Group II: Zero Suicide Usual Care Active Control 1 Intervention

In Onondaga County, New York State (NYS) aims to implement a countywide "Zero Suicide Safety Net" of providers who share enhanced protocols for clinical care, staff training, and data collection (improved coding of suicidal behavior). Participating behavioral health systems have agreed to common protocols for clinical care, training, and data collection. Participating providers receive robust training in suicide prevention best practices. Because of the wide participation of mental health facilities in the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) Zero Suicide project, most subjects who engage in outpatient treatment will receive that treatment in facilities that are adopting NYS Zero Suicide protocols. Those who do not engage in care will nonetheless experience enhanced transition and follow-up contact from the services from which they are discharged.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Rochester

Lead Sponsor

Trials

883

Recruited

555,000+

State University of New York - Upstate Medical University

Collaborator

Trials

176

Recruited

27,600+

Northwestern University

Collaborator

Trials

1,674

Recruited

989,000+

Hutchings Psychiatric Center

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

400+

University of Arkansas

Collaborator

Trials

500

Recruited

153,000+