Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Replication Trial
- Conditions
- Suicidal IdeationSuicide, Attempted
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Present-Centered Therapy (PCT)Behavioral: Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT)Behavioral: Treatment as Usual (TAU)
- Registration Number
- NCT03769259
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Utah
- Brief Summary
The overall goal for the proposed project is to test the effectiveness of BCBT for the prevention of suicide attempts in a sample of treatment-seeking U.S. military personnel and veterans. The standard null hypothesis will involve tests conducted comparing improvement following BCBT (treatment duration of 12 weeks) to Person-Centered Therapy (PCT). The primary outcome comparisons will include direct markers of suicidality (i.e. suicide, suicide attempts). Secondary outcomes will be suicide ideation and indicators of psychiatric distress (e.g., depression, hopelessness). We also aim to assess several hypothesized psychological and neurocognitive mediators of treatment effects (e.g., wish to live, attentional bias, emotion regulation). Participants will be followed for 2 years posttreatment by independent evaluators blind to treatment condition.
- Detailed Description
The number of suicides by military personnel and veterans has steadily increased during the past few decades and remains elevated. Previous research conducted with active duty Army personnel supports the superiority of BCBT and its components over treatment as usual for the reduction of suicide attempts. Additional research is needed to determine if these effects are generalizable to military personnel and veterans more broadly and to confirm hypothesized mechanisms of action. Reference to "active duty" refers to U.S. military service members that have been activated and deployed as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) in accordance with federal orders under Title 10 or 32, United States Code. Reference to "veteran" refers to any person who has served in the U.S. military at any time, regardless of Branch, Component, era, or discharge status.
Specific Aim 1:To replicate previous findings supporting the efficacy of BCBT for the prevention of suicide attempts among military personnel and veterans (regardless of Axis I or II diagnosis). The standard null hypothesis will involve tests conducted comparing improvement following BCBT to Present-Centered Therapy (PCT)
Specific Aim 2: To identify cognitive-affective mediators of BCBT's effects on risk for suicide attempt.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 300
- Current or past service in the U.S. military
- 18 years of age or older
- Reporting current suicide ideation with intent to die and/or a suicide attempt within the past two weeks
- Ability to understand and speak the English language; and ability to complete the informed consent process.
- Psychiatric or medical condition that precludes the ability to provide informed consent or participation in outpatient treatment (e.g., psychosis, mania, acute intoxication).
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Present-Centered Therapy Treatment as Usual (TAU) - Present-Centered Therapy Present-Centered Therapy (PCT) - Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) - Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Treatment as Usual (TAU) -
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in number of suicide attempts from baseline Assessed every 3 months through study completion (average of 2 years) The change in number of suicide attempts from baseline will be assessed through review of participants' medical records and through participants' responses to the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview. The Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview is a structured interview assessing history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, including suicide attempt history (dates, methods, and severity (e.g., need for medical attention) of previous suicide attempts). An increased number of suicide attempts at any assessment is considered a worse outcome.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in suicidal ideation scores from baseline Assessed once per week until completion of treatment (average of 12 weeks) and at every 3 months through study completion (average of 2 years) The Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation is a 21-item self-report measure of the severity of current suicidal ideation. Items 1-19 measure current suicidal ideation, with summed total scores for these items ranging from 0-38. Higher scores are associated with more severe suicidal ideation and are considered a worse outcome.
Trial Locations
- Locations (3)
Lowcountry Center for Veterans Research
🇺🇸Charleston, South Carolina, United States
The Ohio State University
🇺🇸Columbus, Ohio, United States
Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune
🇺🇸Jacksonville, North Carolina, United States