Effectiveness of Empowerment Group Sessions for Treating Suicidal African American Women in Abusive Relationships

Emory University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Suicide, Attempted; Battered Women

Treatments: Behavioral: Enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU); Behavioral: Psychoeducational intervention (PEI)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00601939

IRB00045774

R01MH078002 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of culturally competent psychoeducational empowerment sessions in treating suicidal African-American women who are in abusive relationships.

Full description

Most suicide attempts are a sign of great distress, often originating from depression; physical and sexual abuse; substance abuse; or family history of suicide, violence, or mental disorder. Risk factors for suicidal behavior are diverse, differing with gender, age, and ethnicity. Since the mid-1980s, the number of reported suicides and suicidal thoughts among young black individuals has increased alarmingly. The higher rates may be caused by high stress living situations attributed to poverty, abuse, discrimination, racism, and difficult family life. Therefore, cultural environments, social situations, and intrapersonal influences are important considerations in developing an effective therapy to prevent suicide. This study will evaluate the effect of culturally competent psychoeducational empowerment sessions in treating suicidal African-American women who are in abusive relationships.

The participants in this single-blind study will be randomly placed in one of two treatment groups. One group will receive psychoeducational intervention (PEI) and the other will receive enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU). After screening, eligible participants will complete a 2-hour survey about life events, concerns, and feelings with a research team member. One week later, participants will complete a second 1-hour survey. Participants will then be randomly placed in the treatment groups. Participants in both groups will receive treatment at Grady Health System, but those in the PEI group will also attend 10 weekly, 90-minute group sessions. The PEI empowerment group sessions will incorporate cultural, social, and intrapersonal elements. The ETAU group will be given mental health treatment as usual plus an adherence enhancement protocol. Follow-up surveys will occur at Week 10 (after treatment completion) and at Months 6 and 12 post-treatment.

Enrollment: 397 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 64 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Identifies as an African-American female
• Abusive relationship within the 12 months prior to study entry
• Suicide attempt within the 12 months prior to study entry
• Seeks services at Grady Health System

Exclusion criteria

• Score of less than 22 on Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE)
• Score of less than 18 on Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM)
• Acutely psychotic

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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397 participants in 2 patient groups

Psychoeducational intervention (PEI)

Experimental group

Description:

Culturally competent group empowerment psychoeducational treatment (group intervention that is culturally informed and educational in nature)

Treatment:

Behavioral: Psychoeducational intervention (PEI)

Enhanced Treatment as Usual

Active Comparator group

Description:

Enhanced treatment as usual that includes an adherence protocol (regular care at the hospital plus an adherence protocol)

Treatment:

Behavioral: Enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU)