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DBT Skills Group for Suicide Risk

N/A
Recruiting
Led By Steve Martino, PhD
Research Sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be older than 18 years old
Must not have
Inability to read English or communicate in spoken and written English
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to18 month follow-up
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial tests if adding a group therapy that teaches emotion management skills (DBT-SG) to usual care can reduce suicide attempts among Veterans. The therapy aims to help Veterans better control their emotions, which may lower their risk of suicide. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a well-supported intervention for reducing suicide attempts in individuals with emotion dysregulation.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for Veterans with current suicidal thoughts or past suicide attempts, who can attend group sessions and are eligible for VHA care. They must have had at least two suicide attempts, one recently, struggle with managing emotions (score of 110+ on DERS), and be able to communicate in English. Those with significant cognitive issues or plans to move within 18 months cannot join.
What is being tested?
The study is testing if a DBT Skills Group (DBT-SG) alongside usual VHA treatments helps reduce suicide attempts more than just the usual treatment alone. It's a randomized controlled trial where participants are randomly placed into either the test group receiving DBT-SG plus standard care or a control group getting only standard care.
What are the potential side effects?
Since this trial involves therapy groups rather than medication, there aren't typical side effects like you'd see with drugs. However, discussing sensitive topics could potentially cause emotional discomfort or distress.

Eligibility Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
Select...
I cannot read or communicate in English.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to18 month follow-up
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to18 month follow-up for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale
Secondary study objectives
Change in Emotion dysregulation
Coping

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: DBT-SG plus VHA treatment as usualExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Group (DBT-SG) in addition to VHA treatment as usual. Group is 24 weekly sessions teaching skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness.
Group II: VHA treatment as usualActive Control1 Intervention
VHA treatment as usual for Veterans at risk for suicide attempt

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.
Mechanism Of Action
Side Effect Profile
Prior Approvals
Other Research
The most common treatments for suicide attempts, such as DBT Skills Group (DBT-SG), work by targeting emotion dysregulation, a core issue in suicidal ideation and attempts. DBT-SG teaches patients skills to manage intense emotions, improve interpersonal effectiveness, and reduce self-destructive behaviors. This approach is crucial for patients as it directly addresses the emotional instability and impulsivity that often lead to suicide attempts, providing them with tools to regulate their emotions and cope with distress, thereby reducing the risk of future attempts.
Living through distress: a skills training group for reducing deliberate self-harm.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

VA Office of Research and DevelopmentLead Sponsor
1,658 Previous Clinical Trials
3,361,571 Total Patients Enrolled
1 Trials studying Suicide Attempt
928 Patients Enrolled for Suicide Attempt
Steve Martino, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorVA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT
4 Previous Clinical Trials
1,610 Total Patients Enrolled
Suzanne Decker, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorVA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT
1 Previous Clinical Trials
17 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

DBT Skills Group Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT05000749 — N/A
Suicide Attempt Research Study Groups: DBT-SG plus VHA treatment as usual, VHA treatment as usual
Suicide Attempt Clinical Trial 2023: DBT Skills Group Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT05000749 — N/A
DBT Skills Group 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT05000749 — N/A
~187 spots leftby Feb 2027