AzTrials
AzTrials

Suicide, AttemptedNCT04746261

A Randomized Clinical Study of "Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program" in Swedish Healthcare - ASSIP

A study testing ASSIP + treatment as usual and Treatment as usual and patient safety in people with Suicide, Attempted, run by Region Skane at 2 sites in Sweden.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This is a randomized study of ASSIP as a treatment for patients who have recently made a suicide attempt. Six psychiatric clinics from four regions in Sweden are included. Together 460 patients will be recruited. Patients will be randomized to ASSIP as a supplement to treatment as usual or to treatment as usual only. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Suicide, Attempted
What is being tested?
ASSIP + treatment as usual and Treatment as usual and patient safety
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
460 participants
Where
2 sitesSweden
Study dates
15 Oct 2020to 30 Sep 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age ≥18 years.
  • Signed informed consent to participate in the study.
  • Contact with psychiatric health care after a suicide attempt within 3 months before the baseline visit
  • Booked meeting or visit in psychiatry or primary care after visit 1

Who cannot join

  • Psychotic illness with current delusions, hallucinations or other negative symptoms that may affect the therapy.
  • Known emotionally unstable personality disorder (ICD 10) noted in the medical record
  • Inability to undergo therapy without an interpreter
  • Mental retardation, dementia, or other circumstances that make it difficult to understand the meaning of participating in the study and giving informed consent.

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Åsa Westrin, MD, PhD contact

+4670 624 38 87

asa.westrin@med.lu.se

Sweden2 sites, 2 recruiting
  • Region Skåne, psykiatri & habilitering, psykiatriforskning skane, Vuxenpsykiatri Lud

    Lund

    Åsa Westrin, MD, PhD, +4670 624 38 87, asa.westrin@med.lu.se

    Recruiting
  • Region Skåne, psykiatri & habilitering, psykiatriforskning skane,Vuxenpsykiatri Malmoe

    Malmö

    Åsa Westrin, MD, PhD, +4670 624 38 87, asa.westrin@med.lu.se

    Joanna Månsson, RN

    Not yet recruiting

Other trials in Sweden

About this study

This is a randomized study of ASSIP as a treatment for patients who have recently made a suicide attempt. Six psychiatric clinics from four regions in Sweden are included. Together 460 patients will be recruited. Patients will be randomized to ASSIP as a supplement to treatment as usual or to treatment as usual only.

The overall aim of the study is to evaluate whether ASSIP, a short-term clinical intervention, can prevent future suicidal behavior in people who have attempted suicide better than just conventional treatment. The project also investigates whether there are any specific factors that may be related to ASSIP's potential effectiveness and whether ASSIP has health economic benefits.

Only patients who give their written consent will be included in the study. Those who meet the inclusion and no exclusion criteria at screening / visit 1 undergo an assessment according to an interview protocol, self-assessment form, and self-assessment scales. Thereafter, the patient is randomized via an electronic system to either ASSIP plus standard treatment or only standard treatment. All patients, regardless of which treatment they are randomized to, will be followed up for two years with a telephone interview and self-assessment scales month 3, 12 and 24. Data from medical records and registers will also be collected.

Read the detailed description

Purpose and aims:

The overall purpose of this project is to evaluate ASSIP for the prevention of future suicidal behavior in persons who attempt suicide. The specific goals are a) to examine the effectiveness of Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) in reducing new suicide attempts in Swedish healthcare, b) to identify factors associated with the effectiveness of ASSIP, c) to construct a cost-effectiveness model of ASSIP.

Background:

According to a consensus position paper from the evidence-based national suicide prevention task force in Europe, health care approaches with high evidence include treatment of depression and ensuring chain of care. These strategies are in line with Swedish guidelines. However, several recent international studies suggest that interventions specifically targeted to prevent suicide attempts may be more successful and that brief psychological interventions are of interest . One promising brief psychotherapeutic intervention to prevent new suicide attempts in suicide attempters is ASSIP . An RCT from Switzerland that included 120 patients showed an 80% risk reduction for new suicide attempt within two years, when ASSIP was added on to treatment as usual (TAU) compared to TAU alone.

Study design:

This is an evaluator-blinded, multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT). The patients will be examined with a structured interview and self-rating scales at baseline (first visit), and structured telephone interviews, self-rating scales and medical record screening at 3 months, 12 months and 24 months follow up. Completed suicides will be detected through the Cause of Death Register. The study will also collect information from the National Board of Health and Welfare (NBHW), National Prescribed Drugs Register (NPDR), Longitudinal integrated database for health insurance and labour market studies (LISA) and the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan).

Randomization: After the first visit, the patients will be randomized to ASSIP+ TAU or TAU only, using stratified randomization according to clinical site. The randomization will be performed through REDCAP, a web-based application for electronic data collection in research studies. Expected site differences: To map the variation of TAU with site, age, gender, ICD diagnoses and previous suicide attempts, health care contacts and treatments a TAU check list will be used.

Being tested
ASSIP + treatment as usual, Treatment as usual and patient safety
Medical subject headings
Suicide, Attempted

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • ASSIP + treatment as usualBehavioural

    ASSIP:

    First session: Videotaped narrative interview focusing on the background to the suicidal crisis.

    Second session: Video playback. The patient and the therapist watch the recorded interview together, stopping the film regularly to add information. The patient is given a psychoeducational text to read and comment on as homework.

    Third session: Compilation of a written case formulation of the individual's vulnerability and triggering events that preceded the suicidal crisis. Individual preventive measures are developed by the patient and the therapist together and written down in a document that the patient keeps and which is attached to the patient's medical record.

    Fourth session (optional): Mini-exposure.

    Standardized letters: The therapist contacts the patient by letter during two years, every three months the first year and every six months the second year.

    Treatment as usual: As described bellow

  • Treatment as usual and patient safetyOther

    All patients follow their usual care, regardless of whether they are treated with ASSIP or not. Usual care is multidisciplinary and combines psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and other treatments, including referral to specialist psychiatric units or primary care. This depends on the assessments made by the patient's usual care provider. Treatment as usual is monitored by the research team through a standardised medical record review.

    In order to increase patient safety, some standardisation of usual care takes place. The research nurse communicates with the referring healthcare provider to ensure that the patient receives a follow-up appointment within the usual care setting after the initial visit and the research team informs the usual care provider and acts when acute suicide risk is detected. In most sites, some information from SIS, CSSR-S and MINI assessments is noted in the patient's medical records.

Study groups in NCT04746261
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
ASSIP plus treatment as usualExperimentalASSIP according to manual. Treatment as usual will be multidisciplinary and combine psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and other treatments as well as referral to specialist psychiatry or primary care as required.
Receives: Behavioral: ASSIP + treatment as usual; Other: Treatment as usual and patient safety
Treatment as usualActive comparatorTreatment as usual will be multidisciplinary and combine psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and other treatments as well as referral to specialist psychiatry or primary care as required.
Receives: Other: Treatment as usual and patient safety

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Number of suicide attempts up to 24 months after inclusion

    Repeated telephone follow up at 3, 12 and 24 months after inclusion. Medical records data. Register data

    Measured: 24 months after inclusion in study

  2. Number of suicide attempts up to 12 months after inclusion

    Repeated telephone follow up at 3, 12 after inclusion. Medical records data. Register data.

    Measured: 12 months after inclusion in study

  3. Number of suicide attempts up to 3 months after inclusion

    Telephone follow up at 3 months after inclusion. Medical records data. Register data.

    Measured: 3 months after inclusion in study

  4. Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio( ICER).

    RCT outcomes put into perspective using a health-economic model with a life-time horizon, evidence from literature and complementary register data.

    Measured: 24 months after inclusion

Secondary outcomes (10)
  1. Number of suicidal thoughts/plans within 24 months after inclusion

    Repeated self ratings, suicidal thoughts defined as MADRS-S (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale) question 9 score above or equal to 4 at 3, 12 and 24 months

    Measured: 24 months after inclusion in study

  2. Number of suicidal thoughts/plans within 12 months after inclusion

    Repeated self ratings, suicidal thoughts defined as MADRS-S (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale) question 9 score above or equal to 4 at 3 and 12 months

    Measured: 12 months after inclusion in study

  3. Number of suicidal thoughts/plans within 3 months after inclusion

    Repeated self ratings, suicidal thoughts defined as MADRS-S (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale) question 9 score above or equal to 4 at 3 months

    Measured: 3 months after inclusion in study

  4. Health care contacts and treatments

    Number and type of healthcare contacts according to telephone interviews and medical records

    Measured: 24 months after inclusion

  5. Changes in Quality of life

    Self reported quality of life reported according to the EuroQol Research Foundation, EQ-5D-5L at 3 months follow up in comparison with first visit.The EQ-5D-5L consists of the EQ-5D descriptive system and the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). The descriptive system comprises five dimensions: Each dimension has 5 levels: A higher 1-digit number mean a worse outcome. High scores on the EQ VAS mean a better outcome.

    Measured: 3 months

  6. Changes in Quality of life

    Self reported quality of life reported according to the EuroQol Research Foundation, EQ-5D-5L at 12 months follow up in comparison with first visit.The EQ-5D-5L consists of the EQ-5D descriptive system and the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). The descriptive system comprises five dimensions: Each dimension has 5 levels: A higher 1-digit number mean a worse outcome. High scores on the EQ VAS mean a better outcome.

    Measured: 12 months

  7. Changes in Quality of life

    Self reported quality of life reported according to the EuroQol Research Foundation, EQ-5D-5L at 24 months follow up in comparison with first visit.The EQ-5D-5L consists of the EQ-5D descriptive system and the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). The descriptive system comprises five dimensions: Each dimension has 5 levels: A higher 1-digit number mean a worse outcome. High scores on the EQ VAS mean a better outcome.

    Measured: 24 months

  8. Periods of employment, unemployment, education, military service or pension

    Periods of employment, unemployment, education, military service or pension registered in the Longitudinal integrated database for health insurance and labour market studies (LISA)

    Measured: 24 months

  9. Amount of income from employment, social insurance, student aid, pension and unemployment benefits.

    Amount of income from employment, social insurance, student aid, pension and unemployment benefits registered in the Longitudinal integrated database for health insurance and labour market studies (LISA)

    Measured: 24 months

  10. Number of days with sickness and disability benefits

    Number of days with sickness or disability benefits registered according to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency

    Measured: 24 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted9 Feb 2021
  2. Study start15 Oct 2020
  3. Primary completion30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Sep 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
460 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04746261
Sponsor's protocol ID
2020-02360
Status last verified
Aug 2025
First submitted
12 Aug 2020
Last updated
20 Aug 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Lindstrom S, Ehnvall A, Bergqvist E, Waern M, Dahlin M, Westrin A. A study protocol of the effectiveness of the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) for recent suicide attempters: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry. 2024 Oct 4;24(1):655. doi: 10.1186/s12888-024-06109-z.

    PubMed 39367366

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing ASSIP + treatment as usual and Treatment as usual and patient safety in people with Suicide, Attempted, run by Region Skane at 2 sites in Sweden.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in Sweden. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Åsa Westrin, MD, PhD (+4670 624 38 87, asa.westrin@med.lu.se), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Number of suicide attempts up to 24 months after inclusion (time frame: 24 months after inclusion in study). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04746261, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Aug 2025.

Free account

Keep searching with a free account

You’ve used your 3 free searches for this session. Log in or create a free AzTrials account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in