Building Stronger Allies (BSA)

Florida State University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Risk Reduction; Suicide

Treatments: Behavioral: Building Stronger Allies; Behavioral: Health Education Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03571750

W81XWH-16-2-003

Details and patient eligibility

About

BSA is a novel, computerized intervention specifically designed for active military personnel with the intent to reduce two risk factors known to be associated with suicide outcomes.

Full description

The investigators have focused on the identification of malleable risk factors for preventative intervention in a number of types of psychopathology including suicidality. In the case of Perceived Burdensomeness (PB) and Thwarted Belongingness (TB), theory suggests that they may be malleable, though this has received little empirical attention. Taken together, the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide and related empirical literature suggest that targeting PB/TB should offer a novel and important avenue to reduce suicidality. This inspired the investigators' efforts to create and evaluate an intervention - called Building Stronger Allies (BSA) - designed to reduce these factors.

Enrollment: 233 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Must show at least some suicide risk based on scoring > 0 on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).
• Must also own a Smartphone.

Exclusion criteria

• No evidence of such serious suicidal risk that would indicate a need for immediate hospitalization or emergency intervention.
• No planned moves/deployments for the next 3 months.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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233 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Building Stronger Allies Condition

Experimental group

Description:

BSA was developed to model the educational and behavioral techniques commonly employed in the treatment of individuals with mood psychopathology. The psychoeducation portion uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy principles to correct problematic ideas and behaviors related to PB/TB. More specifically, the program was designed to correct "myths" regarding PB/TB. The program emphasizes the idea that social interaction is a critical need, just like other basic needs such as the need for food and water. Participants are taught that negative beliefs about being isolated and being a burden are usually inaccurate. Following this, behavioral activation techniques are introduced as a way to decrease isolation and feelings of burdensomeness.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Building Stronger Allies

Health Education Training Condition

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

In the HET condition, participants will spend approximately the same amount of time with a program that will present information regarding the importance and benefits of a maintaining a healthy lifestyle and then will provide guidelines to achieve a healthy lifestyle. HET is shown to engage participants with beneficial information while being inert with respect to the risk mechanisms of interest (i.e., PB/TB). The program covers a number of health related topics including: diet, alcohol use, water consumption, exercise, and sleep. The program reviews with the Participants how to monitor their own daily health habits, which will be reinforced by the Smartphone application.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Health Education Training