To Share Or Not To Share (2Share)

University of Ulm

Status and phase: Terminated; Phase 2

Conditions: History of Suicide Attempt

Treatments: Behavioral: 2Share

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03943862

345/18

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the group-based intervention "To Share Or Not To Share" in a German clinical setting. Feasibility and efficacy of the program will be tested in a pilot randomized-controlled trial.

Full description

People who have survived a suicide attempt often face public and self-stigma, and secrecy is a common strategy to minimize the risk of being labeled. Both secrecy and disclosure have pros and cons. The decision whether, when, and to whom to disclose a previous suicide attempt is complex. Interventions can provide guidance for systematic consideration and a well informed decision. Potentially, it may not be disclosure itself, but the empowered decision for or against disclosure of a previous suicide attempt that reduces distress and leads to beneficial outcomes.

The manualized peer-led group intervention "Honest, Open, Proud" (HOP) supports people with mental illness in their decision whether to disclose mental illness. Research showed positive effects of the intervention on stigma stress, disclosure-related distress and quality of life. Based on HOP, "To Share Or Not To Share" (2Share) was developed to systematically guide suicide attempt survivors through their decision whether and how to disclose a previous suicide attempt.

2Share led to significant reductions in self-stigma and depressive symptoms, as well as increased self-esteem in a recent pilot randomized-controlled trial (RCT) in the US. The aim of the current study is to evaluate 2Share in a German clinical setting. Feasibility and efficacy of 2 Share will be tested in a pilot RCT.

Enrollment: 4 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Current inpatient, outpatient or day clinical treatment at the Bezirkskrankenhaus Günzburg, Germany
• Age ≥ 18 years
• At least one previous suicide attempt
• Positive screening for disclosure distress (1 item: "In general, how distressed or worried are you in terms of secrecy or disclosure of your suicide attempt?", self-report, persons with a score ≥ 4 on a scale from 1-7 are included)
• Written informed consent
• Sufficient German language skills

Exclusion criteria

• Current suicidality (1 item: "Have you had thoughts that you would be better off dead for at least several days during the last week?", self-report, persons responding with yes will be excluded and will be offered support)
• Suicide attempt within the last four weeks
• Dementia or organic disease (ICD-10: F0)
• Primary substance dependence (ICD-10: F1x.2)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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4 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention (2Share) + treatment as usual

Experimental group

Description:

Study participants randomized to the experimental group receive the intervention (2Share) while maintaining their current treatment (treatment as usual). 2Share is a peer-led group intervention containing three two-hour sessions within two weeks plus an additional booster session four weeks later. Fidelity to manual is rated in each session by study staff.

Treatment:

Behavioral: 2Share

Treatment as usual

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants randomized to the control group do not receive the group program but maintain their current treatment (treatment as usual).