Development of a Positive Psychology Intervention to Reduce Suicide Risk

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Suicidal Ideation; Suicide Attempt
• Interventions: Other: Positive Psychology Exercises

• Registration Number: NCT01398891
• Lead Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Brief Summary

This pilot study will recruit patients admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit at MGH for suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt. Inclusion criteria will be broad to increase enrollment rates and obtain information for patients with a wide range of diagnoses and illness severity. Enrolled subjects will complete randomly-selected positive psychology exercises daily (on weekdays) until discharge and will rate the exercises in multiple domains. Subjects' participation will be complete at the end of their admission or when all exercises have been completed, whichever comes first.

Overall, our goal is to assess the acceptability and utility of eight possible positive psychology interventions related to gratitude, optimism, kindness, mindfulness, recollection, and forgiveness in suicidal inpatients.

This is a single-arm study, completed with patients who have been admitted to the hospital for suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt. It is aimed at developing a positive psychology treatment aimed at suicidal patients. The study consists of serial completion of different positive psychology exercises, once daily, during admission, to get subjects' input on their feasibility and impact. This will allow us to work collaboratively to identify the specific exercises that best fit this population. Subjects' participation ends when they are discharged from the hospital. The investigators plan to enroll 30 subjects at MGH (and total) in this study.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-05
• Study First Submitted: 2011-07-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2011-07-19
• Study First Posted: 2011-07-21
• Status Verified: 2013-03
• Primary Completion: 2013-03
• Study Completion: 2013-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-03-04
• Last Update Posted: 2013-03-05

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Adult (age 18 and older) admitted to inpatient psychiatric unit at Massachusetts General Hospital
• Suicidal ideation at time of admission OR
• Admission occurring in context of suicide attempt
• Ability to read and write in English

Exclusion Criteria

• Psychotic symptoms
• Cognitive disorder

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Positive Psychology Exercises	Positive Psychology Exercises	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Completion of exercises	Every 24 hours until all exercises administered or discharge occurs	Exercises assigned each day and assessed for completion the next day (a total of eight exercises)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Optimism	Baseline and on the date of discharge (average length of admission= 2 weeks)	Life Orientation Test-Revised
Feasibility and utility of exercises	Assessed within 24 hours of exercise completion	Self-report using Likert scale
Hopelessness	Baseline and on the date of discharge (average length of admission=2 weeks)	Beck Hopelessness Scale

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Massachusetts General Hospital; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States