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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if learning three skills to manage negative emotions, along with smartphone reminders to practice these skills, can reduce emotional distress and suicidal thoughts. Participants will either continue with their usual treatment and complete smartphone surveys or receive brief therapy sessions (brief skills sessions plus EMI skills practice prompts) alongside their usual treatment, practicing skills guided by smartphone prompts. This trial suits adults who have recently attempted suicide or frequently have suicidal thoughts, speak English fluently, and own a smartphone with internet access. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could enhance emotional well-being and mental health support.

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

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this mobile app and brief psychotherapy protocol is safe for managing suicidal thoughts?

Research shows that short skills sessions combined with reminders from a mobile app are generally safe for people with suicidal thoughts. Studies have found these methods to be practical and well-received by participants, who report no major negative effects.

In everyday situations, participants often find that learning and practicing these skills helps them manage their emotions. Reports suggest these methods can be quickly implemented and are easy for patients to use, making them likely to be well-tolerated by most people.

Additionally, past research on similar skills-based methods found them promising for managing suicidal thoughts without adding extra risks. Overall, evidence supports the safety of using brief skills sessions and mobile reminders to help manage emotional distress. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the combination of mobile app technology with brief psychotherapy sessions for managing suicidal thoughts. Unlike traditional treatments, which often rely solely on in-person therapy, this approach integrates real-time support via a smartphone app. It offers participants the chance to practice cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) skills on the go, receiving prompts throughout the day to help manage negative emotions and suicidal thoughts. This innovative method not only provides immediate support but also empowers users to apply coping strategies in their daily lives, potentially improving outcomes more quickly and sustainably than current options.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for reducing emotional distress and suicidal thoughts?

Research has shown that short therapy sessions and phone reminders can help reduce suicidal thoughts and emotional distress. In this trial, participants in the "Experimental intervention + TAU" arm will receive three brief sessions of CBT skills, a discretionary post-discharge skills booster session, and 4x/day EMA and prompted EMI, which guides in-the-moment CBT skills practice. One study found that just one brief therapy session helped people better understand and manage their suicidal thoughts. Another study discovered that using phone reminders along with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills helped people handle their emotions as they happened. These methods have been effective in lowering suicidal thoughts and distress when combined with regular treatments. Using brief therapy and phone reminders together seems to be a promising way to support emotional well-being and reduce the frequency of suicidal thoughts. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

EVAN KLEIMAN, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40441633/

Mitigating suicide risk with a single session of virtually- ... Derived from the original success of the SfSL 20-week group therapy, Brief-SfSL helps individuals understand their suicidal thoughts, build ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06571916

NCT06571916 | Brief Skills for Safer Living (Brief-SfSL) Brief-SfSL is a single 90-minute intervention that that: helps clients understand their suicide narrative, which explores the origin and meaning of their ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10172548/

Brief and Ultra-Brief Suicide-Specific Interventions - PMC In adult populations, CAMS has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing suicidal ideation and overall symptom distress, compared with treatment as ...

4. nocklab.fas.harvard.edu nocklab.fas.harvard.edu/file_url/869

An ecological momentary intervention study of emotional ... Here, we explored patients' emotional responses to CBT skills practices in a pilot study pairing smartphone app-delivered skills reminders and ...

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/342250555_Do_Brief_Preventive_Interventions_for_Patients_at_Suicide_Risk_Work

Do Brief Preventive Interventions for Patients at Suicide ... The results provide valuable information for clinicians, researchers, and health policy makers about whether these interventions work to ...

6. nocklab.fas.harvard.edu nocklab.fas.harvard.edu/file_url/1016

Acceptability and Feasibility of an Ecological Momentary ... Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data show that suicidal psychiatric inpatients often go from not thinking about suicide to very intense ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0163834318300690

Implementing an evidence-based psychological ... Implementing an evidence-based psychological intervention for suicidal thoughts and behaviors on an inpatient unit: Process, challenges, and initial findings.