Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Replication Trial

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · Dec 5, 2018

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This trial is testing whether a short, structured talk therapy called Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) can help prevent suicide attempts in U.S. military personnel and veterans who are currently thinking about suicide or have recently tried to harm themselves. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either BCBT or Present-Centered Therapy (PCT). Everyone also continues to receive standard mental health care as usual. The study follows people for about 2 years after treatment to see if there are fewer suicide attempts and less severe suicidal thoughts with BCBT compared with PCT.

To be eligible, adults must have served in the U.S. military and either be actively thinking about suicide or have had a suicide attempt within the past two weeks. They must be able to understand English and give informed consent. Exclusions include conditions that would make participation unsafe or unable to complete the study, such as psychosis, mania, or serious intoxication. The therapy consists of 12 sessions (the first session is longer) delivered at multiple sites, with safety planning and ongoing care provided as part of usual services. The primary outcome is the change in the number of suicide attempts over about 2 years; the main secondary outcome is changes in suicidal thoughts over the same period, measured with standard interviews and scales.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Current or past service in the U.S. military
• • 18 years of age or older
• • Reporting current suicide ideation with intent to die and/or a suicide attempt within the past two weeks
• • Ability to understand and speak the English language; and ability to complete the informed consent process.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Psychiatric or medical condition that precludes the ability to provide informed consent or participation in outpatient treatment (e.g., psychosis, mania, acute intoxication).