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SuicideNCT04844294

A Randomized Clinical Trial Testing the Effectiveness of Telemental Health for Suicidal Patients

A study testing Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) and Present-Centered Therapy (PCT) in people with Suicide and Suicidal Ideation, run by Ohio State University at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The long-term goal of this study is to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors among treatment-seeking individuals who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or have recently made a suicide attempt. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Suicide, Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Attempt
What is being tested?
Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) and Present-Centered Therapy (PCT)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
98 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
12 Apr 2021to 30 Dec 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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

  • 18 years of age or older;
  • a score of 5 or higher on the Scale for Suicide Ideation and/or a suicide attempt within the past month;
  • ability to understand and speak the English language;
  • ability to complete the informed consent process;
  • regular access to a stable internet connection; and
  • ownership of an internet-enable communication device (e.g., computer, tablet, smartphone).

Who cannot join

  • substance use disorder requiring acute medical management;
  • imminent suicide risk warranting inpatient hospitalization; and
  • impaired mental status that precludes the ability to provide informed consent (e.g., intoxication, psychosis, mania).

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • The Ohio State University

    Columbus, Ohio, 43210

Other trials in United States

About this study

The long-term goal of this study is to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors among treatment-seeking individuals who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or have recently made a suicide attempt. Brief cognitive behavioral therapies for suicide prevention (BCBT) has demonstrated empirical support for reducing suicide attempts as compared to treatment as usual. However, no studies to date have assessed their effectiveness when delivered via telehealth, highlighting an important knowledge gap in light of increased use of telehealth subsequent to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the U.S. In light of this knowledge gap, the primary objective of this study will be to test the effectiveness of brief cognitive behavioral therapy (BCBT) as compared to present-centered therapy (PCT), an active comparator, for the reduction of suicide ideations and attempts when delivered via telehealth.

Read the detailed description

Suicide remains one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States. Since 1999, the age-adjusted suicide rate has increased by approximately 33%, from 10.5 per 100,000 in 1999 up to 14.0 per 100,000 in 2017. Cognitive behavioral therapies are empirically supported for the rapid reduction of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, especially when they are delivered in an individual therapy (versus group therapy) format. One particular protocol-brief cognitive behavioral therapy for suicide prevention (BCBT)-was developed by our research team and tested in a sample of active duty military personnel in a randomized clinical trial. Results of that study showed that service members receiving BCBT were 60% less likely to attempt suicide during the two-year follow-up and showed faster reductions in suicide ideation as compared to service members receiving treatment as usual (TAU). A recently completed pilot randomized clinical trial similarly found a large reduction in suicide attempt rates among adolescents and young adults who received BCBT as compared to TAU (0% vs. 25%).

Unfortunately, fewer than half of suicide decedents and individuals with past-year suicide ideation seek out mental health treatment. While several factors influence the decision to use (or not use) mental health services, logistical barriers such as insufficient time and/or geographic location are among the most commonly cited reasons for choosing not to access treatment. Telehealth services can address this disparity due to reduced need for travel and less time away from school and/or work, which can increase attendance rates to medical appointments. Evidence also suggests that delivering mental health services via telehealth improves help-seeking behaviors. Although numerous studies indicate that the efficacy of empirically-supported treatments for a wide range of mental health conditions are not diminished when delivered via telehealth, no studies have examined the effects of suicide-focused treatment protocols when delivered in this format.

The present study aims to address this knowledge gap by testing the effectiveness of BCBT when delivered via telehealth as compared to present-centered therapy (PCT), an active comparator that has been shown to significantly reduce suicide ideation. The results of this study would provide critical information about the effectiveness of BCBT when delivered via telehealth.

Being tested
Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT), Present-Centered Therapy (PCT)
Keywords
Telemental health, Telemedicine, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Medical subject headings
Suicide, Suicidal Ideation, Suicide, Attempted

What participants receive

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

  • Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT)Behavioural

    BCBT is divided into three phrases. In phase I (5 sessions), the therapist conducts a detailed assessment of the patient's most recent suicidal episode or suicide attempt, identifies patient-specific factors that contribute to and maintain suicidal behaviors, provides a cognitive-behavioral conceptualization, collaboratively develops a crisis response plan, and teaches basic emotion regulation skills such as relaxation and mindfulness. In phase II (5 sessions), the therapist applies cognitive strategies to reduce beliefs and assumptions that serve as vulnerabilities to suicidal behavior. In phase III (2 sessions), a relapse prevention task is conducted.

  • Present-Centered Therapy (PCT)Behavioural

    PCT includes (1) psychoeducation about the typical symptoms and features associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors; (2) normalization of symptoms; (3) experience of receipt of support and feedback from a licensed professional; and (4) positive interpersonal interactions. PCT differs from BCBT in several key ways including less structure (i.e., patients are allowed to have more input into PCT session agendas) and no systematic training in behavioral or cognitive strategies for managing emotions and changing suicide-focused thoughts. PCT will be used as an active comparator because it is an empirically supported treatment for depression and PTSD that also reduces suicidal ideation (Bryan et al., 2016; Resick et al., 2017), but contains unique elements that distinguish the treatment from BCBT.

Study groups in NCT04844294
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT)ExperimentalNot described
Receives: Behavioral: Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT)
Present-Centered Therapy (PCT)Active comparatorNot described
Receives: Behavioral: Present-Centered Therapy (PCT)

What is being measured

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

  1. Change in number of suicide attempts from baseline.

    The change in number of suicide attempts will be assessed using the Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors interview-Revised (SITBI-R). The SITBI-R is an empirically-supported researcher-administered structured interview for assessing the characteristics and features of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, and to distinguish different types of suicidal and self-injurious behaviors. An increased number of suicide attempts at any assessment is considered a worse outcome.

    Measured: Baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 month follow-up.

  2. Change in severity of suicide ideation from baseline.

    The change in severity of suicide ideation will be assessed using the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI), a 19-item 3-point likert scale where higher scores indicate increased severity of suicide ideation. Summed total scores for these items range from 0-38. The SSI is an empirically-supported researcher-administered interview that assesses the intensity of suicide-related thoughts, urges, intentions, and behaviors. All participants complete the first 5 items. If a subject positively endorses either item 4 (active ideation) or item 5 (passive ideation), they are directed to complete an additional 14 items.

    Measured: Baseline, during treatment, 3, 6, 9, and 12 month follow-up.

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Change in psychiatric symptom severity will be measured across multiple time points post-treatment.

    Will be assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 9PROMIS). PROMIS is a 43-item self-report measure that asks participants' health status in the following domains: physical function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, pain interference, and participation in social roles. Respondents are directed to rate the frequency of each symptom within the past 7 days on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always) with higher scores indicating worse symptoms. Within the seven domains summed raw scores range from 6 to 30, with the pain intensity scale ranging from 0-10.

    Measured: Baseline, during treatment, 3, 6, 9, and 12 month follow-up.

Timeline

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

  1. First posted14 Apr 2021
  2. Study start12 Apr 2021
  3. Primary completion30 Sep 2024
  4. Study completion30 Dec 2024

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
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
98 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04844294
Sponsor's protocol ID
2020B0396
Status last verified
Mar 2025
First submitted
31 Mar 2021
Last updated
5 Mar 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Rudd MD, Bryan CJ, Wertenberger EG, Peterson AL, Young-McCaughan S, Mintz J, Williams SR, Arne KA, Breitbach J, Delano K, Wilkinson E, Bruce TO. Brief cognitive-behavioral therapy effects on post-treatment suicide attempts in a military sample: results of a randomized clinical trial with 2-year follow-up. Am J Psychiatry. 2015 May;172(5):441-9. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.14070843. Epub 2015 Feb 13.

    PubMed 25677353
  • Sinyor M, Williams M, Mitchell R, Zaheer R, Bryan CJ, Schaffer A, Westreich N, Ellis J, Goldstein BI, Cheung AH, Selchen S, Kiss A, Tien H. Cognitive behavioral therapy for suicide prevention in youth admitted to hospital following an episode of self-harm: A pilot randomized controlled trial. J Affect Disord. 2020 Apr 1;266:686-694. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.178. Epub 2020 Jan 30.

    PubMed 32056945
  • Brown GK, Ten Have T, Henriques GR, Xie SX, Hollander JE, Beck AT. Cognitive therapy for the prevention of suicide attempts: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2005 Aug 3;294(5):563-70. doi: 10.1001/jama.294.5.563.

    PubMed 16077050
  • Bryan CJ, Clemans TA, Hernandez AM, Mintz J, Peterson AL, Yarvis JS, Resick PA; STRONG STAR Consortium. EVALUATING POTENTIAL IATROGENIC SUICIDE RISK IN TRAUMA-FOCUSED GROUP COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF PTSD IN ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL. Depress Anxiety. 2016 Jun;33(6):549-57. doi: 10.1002/da.22456. Epub 2015 Dec 4.

    PubMed 26636426
  • Baker JC, Starkey A, Ammendola E, Bauder CR, Daruwala SE, Hiser J, Khazem LR, Rademacher K, Hay J, Bryan AO, Bryan CJ. Telehealth Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Nov 4;7(11):e2445913. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.45913.

    PubMed 39531231

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) and Present-Centered Therapy (PCT) in people with Suicide and Suicidal Ideation, run by Ohio State University at 1 site in United States.

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 6 inclusion and 3 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Mar 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. 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?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

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

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in number of suicide attempts from baseline. (time frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 month follow-up.). The study lists 2 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 NCT04844294, which also lists 5 linked publications.

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 5 Mar 2025.

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