Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization ConditionNCT06710964
Inducing Self-Dehumanization to Examine Oxytocin and Suicide Risk
A study testing The Ten Item Personality Inventory, Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition and Debrief in people with Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition and Control Condition, run by Florida State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this experiment is to further determine if self-dehumanization is a novel risk factor for suicide. This study will induce self-dehumanization using a novel experimental self-dehumanized future condition (i.e., a futuristic paradigm that likens the individual to a machine) and compare this group to a… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition, Control Condition
- What is being tested?
- The Ten Item Personality Inventory, Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition and Debrief
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Oct 2026to Aug 2028
- 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 to 40 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Between the ages of 18 and 40
- Biological females will be screened to ensure that they have a regular menstrual cycle with a length of 26-30 days and will be scheduled according to their cycle (see Research Strategy for details).
- At least a moderate level of self-dehumanization (i.e., a sum score of 12 or greater out of a possible score of 28) and lifetime suicidal ideation
Who cannot join
- A phobia of needles (i.e., Trypanophobia)
- Any medical conditions precluding them from engaging in a 10-hour fast (consumption of water is allowed and encouraged)
- Life-threatening suicide risk which would result in taking appropriate steps to ensure safety of the individual (e.g., hospitalization)
- A psychosis-related diagnosis
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida, 32304
Thomas Joiner E Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Ph.D., (850) 644-2040, joiner@psy.fsu.edu
Morgan Robison, M.S.
About this study
Official title: Inducing Self-Dehumanization to Examine the Effects on Oxytocin and Suicide Risk
The goal of this experiment is to further determine if self-dehumanization is a novel risk factor for suicide. This study will induce self-dehumanization using a novel experimental self-dehumanized future condition (i.e., a futuristic paradigm that likens the individual to a machine) and compare this group to a control group to analyze the pathway between higher perceptions of self-dehumanization, suicidal ideation, and changes in oxytocin concentrations.
It is hypothesized that participants randomly assigned to the self-dehumanized mechanistic future condition will exhibit temporary increases in suicidal ideation (which will be thoroughly assessed, intervened upon following the induction) and decreases in oxytocin concentrations as compared to the control condition, which will not display significant changes. Further, we will explore if the magnitude of the oxytocin response will partially mediate the change in suicidal ideation.
Read the detailed description
Purpose: Humans are inherently social beings, and the need for belonging and connection is fundamental. Severe perceptions of social exclusion, non-belonging, and isolation can result in significant psychological harm, including suicide, which claims nearly 50,000 lives annually in the U.S. and affects over 13 million individuals through suicidal ideation (SI). A key predictor of SI, thwarted belongingness, arises from feelings of exclusion and non-belonging, yet more specificity is needed to identify the types of non-belonging that contribute most to suicide risk. Self-dehumanization-a perception of oneself as less than human-emerges as a promising factor in understanding and mitigating SI, with empirical evidence linking it to anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and social withdrawal. Preliminary research suggests that self-dehumanization is influenced by neurobiological processes, particularly oxytocin, a hormone critical to social connectedness and self-perception. Low oxytocin levels have been linked to self-dehumanization, reduced social reengagement, and heightened suicide risk, highlighting its potential as a target for intervention. Building on these insights, this study will experimentally induce and reduce self-dehumanization to examine its effects on SI and oxytocin levels. Thus, this study will use a self-dehumanization induction to analyze its impact on SI and oxytocin. Findings will provide a novel framework for integrating psychotherapeutic and neurobiological strategies into suicide prevention efforts.
Research Design/Method: The present study will utilize an experimental design with two groups, an experimental self-dehumanization induction group and a comparison control group.
Procedure: All interested participants will be instructed to fill out the screening survey to determine fit. Eligible participants will be invited to complete the study visit in person. Following consent, participants will complete a pre-induction fasted blood draw of 5 milliliters (i.e., approximately a tablespoon of blood). Next, participants will complete the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors-Short Form interview with the experimenter and a battery of randomized self-report assessments. After completion, participants will fill out a personality inventory distractor. Eligible participants will then be randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions and provided a futuristic report based upon the false reports of the personality inventory. The two conditions will either be the mechanistic self-dehumanization condition or the control condition. Following this, they will undergo a post-induction 5 milliliter fasted blood draw. They will then complete a post-induction battery of self-report measures. Participants will be queried for any changes in suicide risk and any current suicidal ideation and intent will receive appropriate interventions (e.g., means safety counseling, safety planning). Upon completion participants will be debriefed, provided a brief rehumanization remedy to undo the effects of the self-dehumanized condition, compensated, and provided mental health resources (e.g., the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). The appointment is expected to take approximately 1.5 hours to complete
Data Analyses: All results will be analyzed in R. First, descriptive statistics and zero-order bivariate correlation analyses will be assessed. For Study 1, repeated measures ANCOVAs will be used to examine group differences (i.e., the active self-dehumanization condition and control condition) in changes in oxytocin levels, self-dehumanization scores, and suicidal ideation, controlling for social isolation (i.e., thwarted belongingness, a factor of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire). Post-hoc pairwise comparisons will be conducted if the omnibus test indicates statistically significant effects. Following this, exploratory analyses will be conducted to assess if oxytocin partially mediates the relationship between self-dehumanization pre-experimental manipulation and suicide risk post-experimental manipulation (controlling for suicide risk at pre-experimental manipulation) through bootstrapped mediation procedures (i.e., 10,000 samples using the mediation and lavaan packages in R).
- Being tested
- The Ten Item Personality Inventory, Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition, Debrief, Control Condition, Clinical Interview
- Keywords
- self-dehumanization, suicidal ideation, oxytocin
- Medical subject headings
- Suicidal Ideation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
The Ten Item Personality InventoryOther
The Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) is a brief self-report measure of the Big Five personality dimensions, which will provide the mock basis for the self-dehumanization induction. Participants will indicate responses on 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("disagree strongly") to 7 ("agree strongly").
Building off previously validated tasks participants will be told that the TIPI measure provided certain information about their personalities (and therefore expectations for their future). To establish credibility, participants will receive accurate feedback surrounding their reported levels of extraversion (high, medium, low). Participants will be randomly assigned to receive one of the following pre-written, feedback scripts as additional implications about their extraversion scores in relationship to future social expectations.
Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization ConditionOther
Future Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Script: "Based on your responses, you're the type who will feel at times that you're just a number in the system. The day-to-day pattern of going to work and fulfilling responsibilities will seem repetitive, like you are a mechanical device just going through the motions. You might find that relationships feel distant or lack the warmth you seek, making it challenging to form deeper connections. Over time, each day will blend into the next, which will likely lead to you operating on autopilot, existing among humans."
DebriefOther
Debrief: Those in the self-dehumanized condition will receive a brief rehumanization intervention to undo the effects of the self-dehumanized condition. This intervention will involve a reminder that the condition was fabricated and will involve reading quotes involving general themes of humanness. The participants will then share with the experimenter how they connect to their humanness. The experimenter will document responses and encourage engagement in humanizing activities following the study visit. Findings from these qualitative responses will inform a rehumanization intervention in another study.
Control ConditionOther
Future Control Script: "Based on your responses, you're the type who will have a very normal life. You will wake up, go to your job during the weekdays, and complete all necessary tasks. On the weekends you will spend time doing fulfilling activities. Relationships will have natural ups and down, but overall, you will feel satisfied by your connectedness to others. Though some days may feel monotonous, you will feel relaxed knowing you belong."
Clinical InterviewDiagnostic test
Clinical Interview. Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview-Short Form (SITBI-SF). Participants will complete an in-person interview featuring 72-items about their history of self-injury and suicidal behaviors. This interview includes 6 yes/no style questions about suicidal thoughts, suicidal plans, suicidal gestures, suicidal attempts, nonsuicidal self-injury thoughts, and nonsuicidal self-injury. Each category that is endorsed, across the lifetime, has follow up questions surrounding times, duration, intensity, severity, type, and if medical attention was sought. This interview has sound psychometric properties.
Self-Report MeasuresOther
Depressive Symptom Index - Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS). Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8). Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ). Self-Dehumanization Scale (SDS).
Blood DrawOther
Five milliliters of blood will be drawn before and after study interventions for the quantification of plasma oxytocin concentrations by certified phlebotomists. Samples will be collected into chilled Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA) tubes, inverted ten times to mix with anticoagulants, and centrifuged at 1600g for 15 minutes at 4˚C. Cleared plasma will be aliquoted into cryotubes and stored at -80˚C. Consistent with expert recommendations, oxytocin levels will be obtained from the samples diluted 1:4 (i.e., oxytocin can be discarded through plasma proteins when incorporating an extraction step before conducting the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]). Second, to buffer against contrasting concerns, an aliquot of each sample will be analyzed for test-retest purposes. Oxytocin concentrations will be measured using a validated commercially available and sensitive ELISA neurophysin kit (Abcam).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition | Experimental | A self-dehumanized future condition (i.e., a futuristic paradigm that likens the individual to a machine) Receives: Other: The Ten Item Personality Inventory; Other: Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition; Other: Debrief; Diagnostic Test: Clinical Interview; Other: Self-Report Measures; Other: Blood Draw |
| Control Condition | Active comparator | Control Condition Receives: Other: The Ten Item Personality Inventory; Other: Control Condition; Diagnostic Test: Clinical Interview; Other: Self-Report Measures; Other: Blood Draw |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Suicidal Ideation
Suicidal Ideation will be measured using the Depressive Symptom Index-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS) where the scores range from 0-12 and higher scores indicate higher levels of suicidal ideation. These analyses will control for Baseline suicidal ideation and the thwarted belongingness sub-scale from the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire where thwarted belongingness scores range from 1-56 and higher scores indicate greater perceptions of thwarted belongingness.
Measured: Baseline and 1 hour later after the experimental induction
Change in Oxytocin Levels
Five milliliters of blood will be drawn before and after study interventions for the quantification of plasma oxytocin concentrations by certified phlebotomists (including the PI, who is already certified and currently collecting samples for a T-32 supported project). Samples will be collected into chilled EDTA tubes, inverted ten times to mix with anticoagulants, and centrifuged at 1600g for 15 minutes at 4˚C. Cleared plasma will be aliquoted into cryotubes and stored at -80˚C. Consistent with expert recommendations, oxytocin levels will be obtained from the samples diluted 1:4 (i.e., oxytocin can be discarded through plasma proteins when incorporating an extraction step before conducting the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]). Second, to buffer against contrasting concerns, an aliquot of each sample will be analyzed for test-retest purposes. Oxytocin concentrations will be measured using a validated commercially available and sensitive ELISA neurophysin kit (Abcam).
Measured: Baseline and 1 hour later after the experimental induction
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Nov 2024
- Study startOct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionAug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionAug 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization ConditionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Florida State UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Florida State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Thomas Joiner, Florida State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06710964
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- FP00007283
- Status last verified
- Oct 2025
- First submitted
- 26 Nov 2024
- Last updated
- 20 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Protocol will be designed to allow for IPD sharing. IPD de-identified demographic, self-report, and neurobiological (i.e., oxytocin) data may be shared. Data will not be shared if the participant denies to share their data. Data will be accessible by contacting the Central Contact Person of the study: Morgan Robison (mrobison@psy.fsu.edu). If data are uploaded to a public repository, the external link will be made available here.
Publications
Robison M, Abderhalden FP, Joiner TE. Dehumanization and the Association With Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Suicidal Ideation in an Incarcerated Population. Crisis. 2024 Jul;45(4):287-293. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000952. Epub 2024 Mar 5.
PubMed 38441129Robison M, Jeon ME, Udupa NS, Potter M, Robertson L, Joiner T. The Self-Dehumanization Scale: Three Studies on Its Development and Validation. J Pers Assess. 2025 Jan-Feb;107(1):41-57. doi: 10.1080/00223891.2024.2367543. Epub 2024 Jun 28.
PubMed 38940620
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Inducing Self-Dehumanization to Examine the Effects on Oxytocin and Suicide Risk
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06710964
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FP00007283
- Keywords
- self-dehumanization, suicidal ideation, oxytocin
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Florida State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Aug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Aug 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 29 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this experiment is to further determine if self-dehumanization is a novel risk factor for suicide. This study will induce self-dehumanization using a novel experimental self-dehumanized future condition (i.e., a futuristic paradigm that likens the individual to a machine) and compare this group to a control group to analyze the pathway between higher perceptions of self-dehumanization, suicidal ideation, and changes in oxytocin concentrations.
It is hypothesized that participants randomly assigned to the self-dehumanized mechanistic future condition will exhibit temporary increases in suicidal ideation (which will be thoroughly assessed, intervened upon following the induction) and decreases in oxytocin concentrations as compared to the control condition, which will not display significant changes. Further, we will explore if the magnitude of the oxytocin response will partially mediate the change in suicidal ideation.
Detailed description
Purpose: Humans are inherently social beings, and the need for belonging and connection is fundamental. Severe perceptions of social exclusion, non-belonging, and isolation can result in significant psychological harm, including suicide, which claims nearly 50,000 lives annually in the U.S. and affects over 13 million individuals through suicidal ideation (SI). A key predictor of SI, thwarted belongingness, arises from feelings of exclusion and non-belonging, yet more specificity is needed to identify the types of non-belonging that contribute most to suicide risk. Self-dehumanization-a perception of oneself as less than human-emerges as a promising factor in understanding and mitigating SI, with empirical evidence linking it to anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and social withdrawal. Preliminary research suggests that self-dehumanization is influenced by neurobiological processes, particularly oxytocin, a hormone critical to social connectedness and self-perception. Low oxytocin levels have been linked to self-dehumanization, reduced social reengagement, and heightened suicide risk, highlighting its potential as a target for intervention. Building on these insights, this study will experimentally induce and reduce self-dehumanization to examine its effects on SI and oxytocin levels. Thus, this study will use a self-dehumanization induction to analyze its impact on SI and oxytocin. Findings will provide a novel framework for integrating psychotherapeutic and neurobiological strategies into suicide prevention efforts.
Research Design/Method: The present study will utilize an experimental design with two groups, an experimental self-dehumanization induction group and a comparison control group.
Procedure: All interested participants will be instructed to fill out the screening survey to determine fit. Eligible participants will be invited to complete the study visit in person. Following consent, participants will complete a pre-induction fasted blood draw of 5 milliliters (i.e., approximately a tablespoon of blood). Next, participants will complete the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors-Short Form interview with the experimenter and a battery of randomized self-report assessments. After completion, participants will fill out a personality inventory distractor. Eligible participants will then be randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions and provided a futuristic report based upon the false reports of the personality inventory. The two conditions will either be the mechanistic self-dehumanization condition or the control condition. Following this, they will undergo a post-induction 5 milliliter fasted blood draw. They will then complete a post-induction battery of self-report measures. Participants will be queried for any changes in suicide risk and any current suicidal ideation and intent will receive appropriate interventions (e.g., means safety counseling, safety planning). Upon completion participants will be debriefed, provided a brief rehumanization remedy to undo the effects of the self-dehumanized condition, compensated, and provided mental health resources (e.g., the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). The appointment is expected to take approximately 1.5 hours to complete
Data Analyses: All results will be analyzed in R. First, descriptive statistics and zero-order bivariate correlation analyses will be assessed. For Study 1, repeated measures ANCOVAs will be used to examine group differences (i.e., the active self-dehumanization condition and control condition) in changes in oxytocin levels, self-dehumanization scores, and suicidal ideation, controlling for social isolation (i.e., thwarted belongingness, a factor of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire). Post-hoc pairwise comparisons will be conducted if the omnibus test indicates statistically significant effects. Following this, exploratory analyses will be conducted to assess if oxytocin partially mediates the relationship between self-dehumanization pre-experimental manipulation and suicide risk post-experimental manipulation (controlling for suicide risk at pre-experimental manipulation) through bootstrapped mediation procedures (i.e., 10,000 samples using the mediation and lavaan packages in R).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition | Experimental | Other: The Ten Item Personality Inventory, Other: Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition, Other: Debrief, Diagnostic Test: Clinical Interview, Other: Self-Report Measures, Other: Blood DrawA self-dehumanized future condition (i.e., a futuristic paradigm that likens the individual to a machine) |
| Control Condition | Active comparator | Other: The Ten Item Personality Inventory, Other: Control Condition, Diagnostic Test: Clinical Interview, Other: Self-Report Measures, Other: Blood DrawControl Condition |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Between the ages of 18 and 40
- Biological females will be screened to ensure that they have a regular menstrual cycle with a length of 26-30 days and will be scheduled according to their cycle (see Research Strategy for details).
- At least a moderate level of self-dehumanization (i.e., a sum score of 12 or greater out of a possible score of 28) and lifetime suicidal ideation
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- A phobia of needles (i.e., Trypanophobia)
- Any medical conditions precluding them from engaging in a 10-hour fast (consumption of water is allowed and encouraged)
- Life-threatening suicide risk which would result in taking appropriate steps to ensure safety of the individual (e.g., hospitalization)
- A psychosis-related diagnosis
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| The Ten Item Personality InventoryThe Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) is a brief self-report measure of the Big Five personality dimensions, which will provide the mock basis for the self-dehumanization induction. Participants will indicate responses on 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("disagree strongly") to 7 ("agree strongly"). Building off previously validated tasks participants will be told that the TIPI measure provided certain information about their personalities (and therefore expectations for their future). To establish credibility, participants will receive accurate feedback surrounding their reported levels of extraversion (high, medium, low). Participants will be randomly assigned to receive one of the following pre-written, feedback scripts as additional implications about their extraversion scores in relationship to future social expectations. | Other | Control Condition, Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition |
| Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization ConditionFuture Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Script: "Based on your responses, you're the type who will feel at times that you're just a number in the system. The day-to-day pattern of going to work and fulfilling responsibilities will seem repetitive, like you are a mechanical device just going through the motions. You might find that relationships feel distant or lack the warmth you seek, making it challenging to form deeper connections. Over time, each day will blend into the next, which will likely lead to you operating on autopilot, existing among humans." | Other | Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition |
| DebriefDebrief: Those in the self-dehumanized condition will receive a brief rehumanization intervention to undo the effects of the self-dehumanized condition. This intervention will involve a reminder that the condition was fabricated and will involve reading quotes involving general themes of humanness. The participants will then share with the experimenter how they connect to their humanness. The experimenter will document responses and encourage engagement in humanizing activities following the study visit. Findings from these qualitative responses will inform a rehumanization intervention in another study. | Other | Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition |
| Control ConditionFuture Control Script: "Based on your responses, you're the type who will have a very normal life. You will wake up, go to your job during the weekdays, and complete all necessary tasks. On the weekends you will spend time doing fulfilling activities. Relationships will have natural ups and down, but overall, you will feel satisfied by your connectedness to others. Though some days may feel monotonous, you will feel relaxed knowing you belong." | Other | Control Condition |
| Clinical InterviewClinical Interview. Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview-Short Form (SITBI-SF). Participants will complete an in-person interview featuring 72-items about their history of self-injury and suicidal behaviors. This interview includes 6 yes/no style questions about suicidal thoughts, suicidal plans, suicidal gestures, suicidal attempts, nonsuicidal self-injury thoughts, and nonsuicidal self-injury. Each category that is endorsed, across the lifetime, has follow up questions surrounding times, duration, intensity, severity, type, and if medical attention was sought. This interview has sound psychometric properties. | Diagnostic test | Control Condition, Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition |
| Self-Report MeasuresDepressive Symptom Index - Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS). Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8). Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ). Self-Dehumanization Scale (SDS). | Other | Control Condition, Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition |
| Blood DrawFive milliliters of blood will be drawn before and after study interventions for the quantification of plasma oxytocin concentrations by certified phlebotomists. Samples will be collected into chilled Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA) tubes, inverted ten times to mix with anticoagulants, and centrifuged at 1600g for 15 minutes at 4˚C. Cleared plasma will be aliquoted into cryotubes and stored at -80˚C. Consistent with expert recommendations, oxytocin levels will be obtained from the samples diluted 1:4 (i.e., oxytocin can be discarded through plasma proteins when incorporating an extraction step before conducting the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]). Second, to buffer against contrasting concerns, an aliquot of each sample will be analyzed for test-retest purposes. Oxytocin concentrations will be measured using a validated commercially available and sensitive ELISA neurophysin kit (Abcam). | Other | Control Condition, Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition |
Primary outcome
Change in Suicidal Ideation
Time frame: Baseline and 1 hour later after the experimental induction
Suicidal Ideation will be measured using the Depressive Symptom Index-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS) where the scores range from 0-12 and higher scores indicate higher levels of suicidal ideation. These analyses will control for Baseline suicidal ideation and the thwarted belongingness sub-scale from the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire where thwarted belongingness scores range from 1-56 and higher scores indicate greater perceptions of thwarted belongingness.
Change in Oxytocin Levels
Time frame: Baseline and 1 hour later after the experimental induction
Five milliliters of blood will be drawn before and after study interventions for the quantification of plasma oxytocin concentrations by certified phlebotomists (including the PI, who is already certified and currently collecting samples for a T-32 supported project). Samples will be collected into chilled EDTA tubes, inverted ten times to mix with anticoagulants, and centrifuged at 1600g for 15 minutes at 4˚C. Cleared plasma will be aliquoted into cryotubes and stored at -80˚C. Consistent with expert recommendations, oxytocin levels will be obtained from the samples diluted 1:4 (i.e., oxytocin can be discarded through plasma proteins when incorporating an extraction step before conducting the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]). Second, to buffer against contrasting concerns, an aliquot of each sample will be analyzed for test-retest purposes. Oxytocin concentrations will be measured using a validated commercially available and sensitive ELISA neurophysin kit (Abcam).
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Jul 2026.
- Background: PubMed 38441129Robison M, Abderhalden FP, Joiner TE. Dehumanization and the Association With Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Suicidal Ideation in an Incarcerated Population. Crisis. 2024 Jul;45(4):287-293. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000952. Epub 2024 Mar 5.
- Background: PubMed 38940620Robison M, Jeon ME, Udupa NS, Potter M, Robertson L, Joiner T. The Self-Dehumanization Scale: Three Studies on Its Development and Validation. J Pers Assess. 2025 Jan-Feb;107(1):41-57. doi: 10.1080/00223891.2024.2367543. Epub 2024 Jun 28.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Protocol will be designed to allow for IPD sharing. IPD de-identified demographic, self-report, and neurobiological (i.e., oxytocin) data may be shared. Data will not be shared if the participant denies to share their data. Data will be accessible by contacting the Central Contact Person of the study: Morgan Robison (mrobison@psy.fsu.edu). If data are uploaded to a public repository, the external link will be made available here.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing The Ten Item Personality Inventory, Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition and Debrief in people with Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Condition and Control Condition, run by Florida 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 3 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Jul 2026. 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?
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 Morgan Robison, M.S. ((540) 589-4853, mrobison@psy.fsu.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Suicidal Ideation (time frame: Baseline and 1 hour later after the experimental induction). 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 NCT06710964, which also lists 2 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 20 Jul 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.