Mobile App + Brief Psychotherapy for Suicidal Thoughts

Overseen By Evan Kleiman, Ph.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Disqualifiers: Psychosis, Intellectual disability, Dementia, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: Inpatient stay + 28 days post-discharge

50 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The aim of this study is to determine whether learning three skills for managing negative emotions and receiving reminders via smartphone to practice these skills reduces how often and how intensely one experiences emotional distress and suicidal thoughts.

Research Team

EVAN KLEIMAN, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults over 18 who have recently attempted suicide or are having suicidal thoughts. Participants must speak and write English fluently and own a smartphone with internet access. It's not for those unable to consent or participate fully due to cognitive impairments, intoxication, or violent behavior.

Inclusion Criteria

I have not attempted suicide or had thoughts of suicide recently.

The ability to speak and write English fluently

Ownership of and consistent access to an internet-capable smartphone (e.g., an iPhone or Android phone)

Exclusion Criteria

The presence of any factor that impairs an individual's ability to provide informed consent and comprehend and effectively participate in the study including: an inability to speak or write English fluently, the presence of gross cognitive impairment due to florid psychosis, intellectual disability, dementia, acute intoxication, or the presence of extremely agitated or violent behavior.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive treatment as usual (TAU) and 4x/day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) of emotions and suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). Experimental group receives 3 brief CBT sessions and EMI for guided skills practice.

Inpatient stay + 28 days post-discharge

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in the intensity of suicidal urges and emotional distress through EMA.

28 days post-discharge

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Brief skills sessions plus EMI skills practice prompts

Trial Overview The study tests if learning skills to manage negative emotions plus reminders on a mobile app can lessen emotional distress and suicidal thoughts. It compares usual treatment, ecological momentary assessment (EMA), and brief skills sessions with EMI prompts against standard care.

Participant Groups

Group I: Treatment as usual (TAU) + EMA Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants will receive TAU and be prompted to complete 4x/day smartphone-based EMA surveys of negative emotion and STBs.

Group II: Experimental intervention + TAU Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants will receive TAU plus 3 brief sessions of CBT skills, one discretionary post-discharge skills booster session, and 4x/day EMA and prompted EMI, which guides in-the-moment CBT skills practice.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Lead Sponsor

Trials

471

Recruited

81,700+