A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Smartphone Delivered Treatment for Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior

Launched by MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · Nov 12, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new treatment delivered through smartphones for adults who are experiencing thoughts of suicide and have had these thoughts frequently in the past month. The program, called Therapeutic Evaluative Conditioning for Suicide (TEC-S), aims to help reduce these thoughts and behaviors. The researchers want to find out if this smartphone-based approach is safe, acceptable, and effective for people who may be struggling with these issues.

To participate in the trial, individuals need to be at least 18 years old, live in the Boston area, and have been having active thoughts of suicide at least five days in the past month. They must also own a smartphone and have access to the internet. Participants will be asked to provide an emergency contact and will need to speak English and give their consent to join the study. Those with certain serious mental health conditions or very high current suicide risk will not be eligible. If someone participates, they can expect to use the smartphone app and may receive follow-up support throughout the study. This trial will not be recruiting participants just yet, but it represents a hopeful step towards finding new ways to support individuals in crisis.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adults ages 18+
• • Relatively frequent and recent (≥5 days within the past-month) active suicidal thoughts as assessed via SITBI-R.
• • Willing and able to provide at least one emergency contact (name, phone number, relation).
• • Owns an Android or iOS smartphone.
• • Possesses at least occasional access to Wi-Fi-enabled internet for data down/uploads.
• • Fluent in English and willing to provide informed consent.
• • Living in the Boston metropolitan area (i.e., \~50 mile radius around Boston, MA)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Recent (past 3-month) hypo/manic symptoms or homicidal ideation or lifetime psychosis spectrum diagnosis as assessed via MINI 7.0.2.
• * Recent acute suicide risk operationalized as affirmative responses to BOTH below items during structured clinical interview AND evaluation by the PI in consultation with Mentors/Advisor Drs. Wilhelm, Kleiman, and/or Bentley:
• • At any time in past week: ≥ 8/10 current intent to act on suicidal thoughts (0 \["not at all"\] to 10 \["extremely strong"\]); AND
• • At any time in past week: thought of a specific suicide plan (i.e, known method/means and/or location) with access to lethal means
• • Impaired vision (e.g., legal blindness), technological illiteracy, or intellectual disability that might impair ability to provide valid data and/or informed consent.