Compassion Meditation and ReliefLink App for Suicidal, Low-Income, African Americans

Emory University

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Suicidal Ideation

Treatments: Behavioral: Compassion meditation (CM); Behavioral: Support group (SG)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03463980

IRB00038057

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with low-income, suicidal African American women and men that compares the relative effectiveness of compassion meditation (CM) versus a support group (SG) .

Full description

The purpose of this study is to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with low-income, suicidal African American women and men that compares the relative effectiveness of compassion meditation (CM) versus a support group (SG) for (1) reducing psychological distress (suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, and shame); (2) bolstering interpersonal connectedness; and (3) enhancing self-compassion and mindfulness. It is hypothesized that at post-intervention and follow-up, compared to individuals in the SG, those in the CM intervention will endorse less psychological distress (suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, and shame), more interpersonal connectedness, and greater levels of self-compassion and mindfulness.

Enrollment: 456 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 64 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• self-identify as African American or Black
• speak English
• present to medical and psychiatric emergency rooms at Grady Health System following a suicide attempt
• moderate level of intent associated with the attempt (SSI >= 8 required)
• Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) score > 22

Exclusion criteria

• significant cognitive impairments (MMSE < 22)
• active psychosis (diagnosed based on Psychotic Screen (PS))
• imminently life-threatening medical condition

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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456 participants in 2 patient groups

Compassion meditation (CM)

Experimental group

Description:

The CM participants will attend six weekly sessions (each 120 minute), and will be video and/or audiotaped. Each weekly CM session will entail a 30 minute check-in regarding the participants' levels of suicidal ideation, as well as a discussion of current life stress and weekly meditation practice; a 30 minute didactic session that will describe the meditative technique introduced during the week; and a 30 minute guided meditation session. Participants will be encouraged to meditate at least 30 minutes a day and will be asked to track their daily meditation time and bring in their tracking sheet to each session.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Compassion meditation (CM)

Support group (SG)

Active Comparator group

Description:

SG participants will attend six weekly sessions, 90 minutes in length. It will be unstructured. Participants will use this time to talk about current concerns and to receive support and guidance from other group members and the leaders.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Support group (SG)