Differences Between Suicide Attempters and Suicide Ideators. Influence of the Brief Therapy Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) on Neuropsychological Correlates and Psychological Process Factors - Project 2 (NePsyAssip HT)

University of Bern

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Self Efficacy; Inhibitory Control; Suicide, Attempted; Process Factors; Locus of Control; Suicide Ideation; Movement Synchrony

Treatments: Behavioral: Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP); Behavioral: Standard of care plus resource interview group (STAR)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06263712

2021-02504 (Project 2)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The present study consists of 3 projects in total and aims to investigate the (neuro-) psychological patterns from suicidal ideation to suicidal behavior as well as the effects and feasibility of ASSIP Home Treatment.

The overall aim of project 2 is to investigate how the (neuro-) psychological patterns are modulated by the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP). Therefore, suicide attempters participating in this project 2 will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group ASSIP or a standard care plus resource interview (STAR) group. The ASSIP and STAR interventions take place at the University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Bern (Switzerland).

At the end of the assessment in project 1 participants who reported a history of past suicide attempt (SUAT) will be informed about project 2.

Only if participants agreed to take part in project 2 and have signed the informed consent, they are randomized into two conditions: The ASSIP intervention (ASSIP) versus standard of care plus resource interview (STAR). Participants of both groups will be assessed again 4 weeks and 12 months after their first baseline assessment of project 1.

Full description

Purpose and aims:

The present study consists of 3 projects in total and aims to investigate the (neuro-) psychological patterns from suicidal ideation to suicidal behavior as well as the effects and feasibility of ASSIP Home Treatment.

After the cross-sectional study in project 1 determining the (neuro-) psychological patterns between suicide ideators (SUID) and suicide attempters, in project 2, the aim is to learn more about the (neuro-) psychological patterns and how they are modulated by a suicide-specific brief intervention ASSIP that was proven to be effective. In addition to the (neuro-) psychological assessment, longitudinal process factors are examined by comparing an ASSIP intervention group to a group of standard care plus resource interview (STAR). The STAR intervention refers to the usual and customary practices within the field, including suicide risk assessment, a non-specific resource focused intervention and if necessary, further outpatient or inpatient treatment.

Background:

In Switzerland, approximately three people die by suicide every day and suicide attempts exceed this number by far. As a previous suicide attempt is one of the strongest predictors for a completed suicide, it is of utmost importance to identify the people at risk. However, research has shown that traditional risk factors (e.g., depression, psychiatric disorder, etc.) reliably predict suicide ideation but poorly predict suicidal behavior. Furthermore, while effective suicide-specific interventions exist, up to 50% of the suicide attempters reject the recommended treatment and around 60% discontinue treatment after one session. Hence, a different approach is required. In this study, three projects will be conducted. Project 1 aims is to identify the (neuro-) psychological patterns of suicidal attempters by comparing between the following four different groups:

1) patients with a prior suicide attempt (SUAT) 2) patients with no prior suicide attempt, but suicidal ideation (SUID) 3) a general patient group (CLIN), and 4) a healthy control group (HLTH).

Project 2 aims to investigate how these patterns are modulated by the efficacious brief therapy ASSIP. In project 3, the feasibility, effects and cost-effectiveness of the ASSIP Home Treatment will be investigated.

Study design of project 2:

A longitudinal analysis over 12 months will only be conducted for the SUAT group. SUAT who participated in project 1 will be asked whether they also wish to participate in project 2. If they agree, they will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group ASSIP or STAR group to understand the influence of the brief ASSIP on (neuro-) psychological correlates in suicide attempters. The brief therapy ASSIP and STAR will take place at the University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Bern (Switzerland). Participants in project 2 will be assessed at 4 weeks, and 12 months after the first assessment which was conducted within project 1 and participants will be assessed on several process factors after each ASSIP or STAR session.

Enrollment: 156 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria for Project 2:

Subjects fulfilling the following inclusion criteria are eligible for the study:

• Informed consent as documented by signature
• Age ≥ 18 years
• At least one previous suicide attempt
• Willingness to attend the ASSIP brief therapy
• Owns a smartphone

Exclusion Criteria for Project 2:

The presence of any one of the following exclusion criteria will lead to exclusion of the subject:

• Serious cognitive impairment
• Any psychotic disorder
• Any current medication, which substantially impairs the attention span, reaction, rate or any other relevant cognitive functions
• Inability to follow the procedures of the study (e.g., insufficient mastery of the German language, previous enrolment into the current study)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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156 participants in 2 patient groups

ASSIP Group

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in the ASSIP Group will receive 3-4 sessions of the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) which is a specific therapy for patients with a suicide attempt in their personal history. Each ASSIP session takes approximately 50 minutes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP)

STAR Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients in the STAR group will receive the standard of care plus resource interview (STAR) which will be a risk assessment interview, and a non-specific resource focused intervention over three face-to-face sessions. In this resource focused intervention, the sessions are focused on activation of existing resources and the patients' social environment is discussed.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard of care plus resource interview group (STAR)