Suicide IdeationNCT07839117
Psychological Capital and Suicide Ideation
A study testing Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Development Intervention in people with Suicide Ideation, run by Bellevue University at 1 site in Guyana.
Trial summary
This study examined whether developing Psychological Capital (PsyCap) could help reduce suicidal thoughts among high school students in Guyana. Psychological Capital includes four positive psychological resources: hope, self-efficacy (confidence), resilience, and optimism. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 11 to 19 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Suicide Ideation
- What is being tested?
- Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Development Intervention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 3,231 participants
- Where
- 1 siteGuyana
- Study dates
- 21 Feb 2022to 1 Apr 2022
- 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 11 to 19 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Students enrolled in participating secondary schools in Regions 2 and 6 of Guyana.
- Students aged 11 to 19 years.
- Participants who provided the required informed consent.
- For participants who were minors, parental consent was required.
Who cannot join
- Students who were not enrolled in a participating secondary school.
- Students who did not provide the required informed consent.
- For participants who were minors, students for whom parental consent was not provided.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Guyana1 site
Ministry of Education Region 2 and 6
Georgetown
About this study
Official title: Can Psychological Capital Mitigate Suicide Ideation?
This study examined whether developing Psychological Capital (PsyCap) could help reduce suicidal thoughts among high school students in Guyana. Psychological Capital includes four positive psychological resources: hope, self-efficacy (confidence), resilience, and optimism.
High school students participated in a study that included a PsyCap development intervention. Students were assigned to either a treatment group that received the intervention or a control group. Psychological Capital and suicide ideation were measured before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and at a one-month follow-up. The study examined whether students who received the PsyCap intervention experienced increased Psychological Capital and decreased suicide ideation compared with students in the control group.
The broader research also examined the relationship between Psychological Capital and suicide ideation using cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses and included interviews with individuals in Guyana who had previously attempted suicide.
Read the detailed description
This study examined whether a Psychological Capital (PsyCap) development intervention could influence psychological capital and suicide ideation among high school students in Guyana. Psychological Capital is a positive psychological construct consisting of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism.
The quantitative component used a quasi-experimental, pre-post control group design. Participating high school students were assigned to treatment and control groups. The treatment group participated in a PsyCap development intervention designed to strengthen positive psychological resources through activities involving goal setting, identification of resources and obstacles, development of alternative pathways for achieving goals, and application of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. Participants worked individually and in small groups during intervention activities. The facilitator connected the exercises to the psychological resources represented by PsyCap.
Psychological Capital and suicide ideation were assessed before the intervention, immediately following the intervention, and at a one-month follow-up. These repeated assessments were used to examine changes over time and differences between the treatment and control groups. The study also examined the relationship between PsyCap and suicide ideation using cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.
The study was designed to test whether higher levels of Psychological Capital were associated with lower levels of suicide ideation and whether development of Psychological Capital could lead to a decrease in suicide ideation. Counseling professionals and school guidance personnel were available to provide support in connection with study participation.
- Conditions
- Suicide Ideation
- Being tested
- Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Development Intervention
- Keywords
- Psychological Capital, Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Prevention, High School Students, Guyana, PsyCap
- Medical subject headings
- Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Prevention
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Development InterventionBehavioural
Also called PsyCap Development Intervention
The Psychological Capital (PsyCap) development intervention was designed to strengthen hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. Participants engaged in activities involving identification of meaningful goals and sub-goals, identification of available resources and potential obstacles, and development of alternative pathways for overcoming obstacles and achieving goals. Participants also engaged in small-group activities to share plans, ideas, and possible solutions. The facilitator connected these activities to the four components of Psychological Capital: hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Intervention | Experimental | Participants assigned to the intervention arm received a Psychological Capital (PsyCap) development intervention designed to strengthen hope, efficacy (self-confidence), resilience, and optimism. Intervention activities included identifying meaningful goals, developing sub-goals, identifying available resources and potential obstacles, and generating multiple pathways for overcoming obstacles and achieving goals. Participants also engaged in small-group activities to share plans, ideas, and possible solutions. The facilitator connected the exercises to the PsyCap components throughout the intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Development Intervention |
| Control | No intervention | Participants assigned to the control arm did not receive the Psychological Capital (PsyCap) development intervention during the study period and served as the comparison group. Participants completed the same study assessments used to measure Psychological Capital and suicide ideation at the designated assessment time points. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Lifetime Suicide Ideation
Lifetime suicide ideation was assessed using participant survey responses. Lifetime suicide ideation was assessed using the suicide ideation subscale of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), as modified by Núñez et al. (2019). The measure consisted of six progressive Yes/No items assessing lifetime suicide ideation. Responses were used to derive a score ranging from 0 to 6. The minimum score was 0 and the maximum score was 6. Higher scores indicated greater severity of suicide ideation and therefore a worse outcome; lower scores indicated less suicide ideation and therefore a better outcome. Scores were compared between the Psychological Capital (PsyCap) intervention and control groups across assessment time points.
Measured: Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Change in Last Month Suicide Ideation
Last Month Suicide Ideation was assessed using the suicide ideation subscale of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), as modified by Núñez et al. (2019). The measure consisted of six progressive Yes/No items assessing suicide ideation during the previous month. Responses were used to derive a score ranging from 0 to 6. The minimum score was 0 and the maximum score was 6. Higher scores indicated greater severity of suicide ideation and therefore a worse outcome; lower scores indicated less suicide ideation and therefore a better outcome. Scores were compared between the Psychological Capital (PsyCap) intervention and control groups across assessment time points.
Measured: Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Secondary outcomes (3)
Change in Life-in-General Psychological Capital (PsyCap)
Life-in-General Psychological Capital was assessed using the 12-item Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-12), which measures the positive psychological resources of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. Participants rated each of the 12 items in relation to their life in general using a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). Item scores were summed to produce a total score ranging from 12 to 72. Higher scores indicated greater Psychological Capital and therefore a better outcome; lower scores indicated lower Psychological Capital and therefore a worse outcome. Scores were compared between the Psychological Capital intervention and control groups across assessment time points.
Measured: Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Change in Schoolwork Psychological Capital (PsyCap)
Schoolwork Psychological Capital was assessed using the 12-item Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-12), which measures the positive psychological resources of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. Participants rated each of the 12 items in relation to their schoolwork using a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). Item scores were summed to produce a total score ranging from 12 to 72. Higher scores indicated greater Psychological Capital and therefore a better outcome; lower scores indicated lower Psychological Capital and therefore a worse outcome. Scores were compared between the Psychological Capital intervention and control groups across assessment time points.
Measured: Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Change in Relationship Psychological Capital (PsyCap)
Relationship Psychological Capital was assessed using the 12-item Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-12), which measures the positive psychological resources of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. Participants rated each of the 12 items in relation to their interpersonal relationships using a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). Item scores were summed to produce a total score ranging from 12 to 72. Higher scores indicated greater Psychological Capital and therefore a better outcome; lower scores indicated lower Psychological Capital and therefore a worse outcome. Scores were compared between the Psychological Capital intervention and control groups across assessment time points.
Measured: Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Sep 2026
- Study start21 Feb 2022
- Primary completion1 Apr 2022
- Study completion1 Apr 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Suicide IdeationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were assigned to either a treatment group that received the Psychological Capital (PsyCap) development intervention or a control group. Outcomes were assessed before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and at a one-month follow-up.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator
- Enrolment
- 3,231 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Bellevue University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dr. Rita Persaud, Bellevue University
- Investigators
- Rita Persaud, PhD canadiate, Principal investigator, Bellevue UniversityCarolyn Youssef-Morgan, PhD, Study chair, Bellevue University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07839117
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- BellevueU
- Other IDs
- U1111-1346-5723
- Status last verified
- Apr 2022
- First submitted
- 17 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 24 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because the study involved high school students, including minors, and collected sensitive information related to suicide ideation and psychological well-being. Participant confidentiality and privacy were emphasized throughout the study, and the informed consent process did not establish a plan for sharing individual-level data with other researchers. Only aggregated and de-identified study findings are reported in the dissertation.
Publications
Persaud, R. (2023). Can Psychological Capital Mitigate Suicide Ideation? Doctoral dissertation, Bellevue University.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Can Psychological Capital Mitigate Suicide Ideation?
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07839117
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- BellevueU
- Conditions
- Suicide Ideation
- Keywords
- Psychological Capital, Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Prevention, High School Students, Guyana, PsyCap
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 3,231 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Bellevue UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 Feb 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Apr 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Apr 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Sep 2026 (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.
This study examined whether developing Psychological Capital (PsyCap) could help reduce suicidal thoughts among high school students in Guyana. Psychological Capital includes four positive psychological resources: hope, self-efficacy (confidence), resilience, and optimism.
High school students participated in a study that included a PsyCap development intervention. Students were assigned to either a treatment group that received the intervention or a control group. Psychological Capital and suicide ideation were measured before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and at a one-month follow-up. The study examined whether students who received the PsyCap intervention experienced increased Psychological Capital and decreased suicide ideation compared with students in the control group.
The broader research also examined the relationship between Psychological Capital and suicide ideation using cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses and included interviews with individuals in Guyana who had previously attempted suicide.
Detailed description
This study examined whether a Psychological Capital (PsyCap) development intervention could influence psychological capital and suicide ideation among high school students in Guyana. Psychological Capital is a positive psychological construct consisting of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism.
The quantitative component used a quasi-experimental, pre-post control group design. Participating high school students were assigned to treatment and control groups. The treatment group participated in a PsyCap development intervention designed to strengthen positive psychological resources through activities involving goal setting, identification of resources and obstacles, development of alternative pathways for achieving goals, and application of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. Participants worked individually and in small groups during intervention activities. The facilitator connected the exercises to the psychological resources represented by PsyCap.
Psychological Capital and suicide ideation were assessed before the intervention, immediately following the intervention, and at a one-month follow-up. These repeated assessments were used to examine changes over time and differences between the treatment and control groups. The study also examined the relationship between PsyCap and suicide ideation using cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.
The study was designed to test whether higher levels of Psychological Capital were associated with lower levels of suicide ideation and whether development of Psychological Capital could lead to a decrease in suicide ideation. Counseling professionals and school guidance personnel were available to provide support in connection with study participation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants were assigned to either a treatment group that received the Psychological Capital (PsyCap) development intervention or a control group. Outcomes were assessed before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and at a one-month follow-up.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Development InterventionParticipants assigned to the intervention arm received a Psychological Capital (PsyCap) development intervention designed to strengthen hope, efficacy (self-confidence), resilience, and optimism. Intervention activities included identifying meaningful goals, developing sub-goals, identifying available resources and potential obstacles, and generating multiple pathways for overcoming obstacles and achieving goals. Participants also engaged in small-group activities to share plans, ideas, and possible solutions. The facilitator connected the exercises to the PsyCap components throughout the intervention. |
| Control | No intervention | –Participants assigned to the control arm did not receive the Psychological Capital (PsyCap) development intervention during the study period and served as the comparison group. Participants completed the same study assessments used to measure Psychological Capital and suicide ideation at the designated assessment time points. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 11 to 19 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Students enrolled in participating secondary schools in Regions 2 and 6 of Guyana.
- Students aged 11 to 19 years.
- Participants who provided the required informed consent.
- For participants who were minors, parental consent was required.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Students who were not enrolled in a participating secondary school.
- Students who did not provide the required informed consent.
- For participants who were minors, students for whom parental consent was not provided.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Development InterventionAlso: PsyCap Development InterventionThe Psychological Capital (PsyCap) development intervention was designed to strengthen hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. Participants engaged in activities involving identification of meaningful goals and sub-goals, identification of available resources and potential obstacles, and development of alternative pathways for overcoming obstacles and achieving goals. Participants also engaged in small-group activities to share plans, ideas, and possible solutions. The facilitator connected these activities to the four components of Psychological Capital: hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. | Behavioural | Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Intervention |
Primary outcome
Change in Lifetime Suicide Ideation
Time frame: Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Lifetime suicide ideation was assessed using participant survey responses. Lifetime suicide ideation was assessed using the suicide ideation subscale of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), as modified by Núñez et al. (2019). The measure consisted of six progressive Yes/No items assessing lifetime suicide ideation. Responses were used to derive a score ranging from 0 to 6. The minimum score was 0 and the maximum score was 6. Higher scores indicated greater severity of suicide ideation and therefore a worse outcome; lower scores indicated less suicide ideation and therefore a better outcome. Scores were compared between the Psychological Capital (PsyCap) intervention and control groups across assessment time points.
Change in Last Month Suicide Ideation
Time frame: Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Last Month Suicide Ideation was assessed using the suicide ideation subscale of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), as modified by Núñez et al. (2019). The measure consisted of six progressive Yes/No items assessing suicide ideation during the previous month. Responses were used to derive a score ranging from 0 to 6. The minimum score was 0 and the maximum score was 6. Higher scores indicated greater severity of suicide ideation and therefore a worse outcome; lower scores indicated less suicide ideation and therefore a better outcome. Scores were compared between the Psychological Capital (PsyCap) intervention and control groups across assessment time points.
3 secondary outcomes
Change in Life-in-General Psychological Capital (PsyCap)
Time frame: Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Change in Schoolwork Psychological Capital (PsyCap)
Time frame: Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Change in Relationship Psychological Capital (PsyCap)
Time frame: Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Sep 2026.
- Results publicationPersaud, R. (2023). Can Psychological Capital Mitigate Suicide Ideation? Doctoral dissertation, Bellevue University.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because the study involved high school students, including minors, and collected sensitive information related to suicide ideation and psychological well-being. Participant confidentiality and privacy were emphasized throughout the study, and the informed consent process did not establish a plan for sharing individual-level data with other researchers. Only aggregated and de-identified study findings are reported in the dissertation.
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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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Rita Persaud, PhD canadiate principal investigator
Bellevue University
Carolyn Youssef-Morgan, PhD study chair
Bellevue University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Development Intervention in people with Suicide Ideation, run by Bellevue University at 1 site in Guyana.
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 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 24 Sep 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 Guyana. 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 Lifetime Suicide Ideation (time frame: Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1-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 NCT07839117, 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 24 Sep 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 1 Nov 2026.