Study About Group and Phone Follow-Up After a Crisis

Phase 3

Recruiting

• Conditions: Suicide; Crisis; Emotional
• Interventions: Behavioral: THRIVE (Toward Hope, Recovery, Interpersonal Growth, Values, and Engagement); Behavioral: Discharge / Safety Planning

• Registration Number: NCT05637203
• Lead Sponsor: University of Rochester

Brief Summary

Crisis stabilization centers (CSCs) provide a less costly and more comfortable alternative to Emergency Department care for individuals with suicidal crises. With demand for crisis alternatives growing, effective interventions that fit the unique workflows and workforce of CSCs are needed to realize their life-saving potential. To address this need, the investigators will adapt, and pilot test the effectiveness of an interpersonally enhanced recovery and follow-up intervention delivered during and after admissions acute suicidal crises.

Detailed Description

The US is poised for growth and investment in our mental health crisis system, with a national phone/text line launching, accompanied by new funding for crisis services. More than 600 Crisis Stabilization Centers (CSCs) across the US provide suicidal clients with a more comfortable and less costly alternative to Emergency Department (ED) care. In light of rising demand, there is an urgent need for feasible, effective, interpersonal, recovery-oriented interventions. This study adapts and tests a novel intervention for delivery prior to and after discharge from CSCs. THRIVE uses the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide as a framework to bolster social connectedness and counter perceived burdensomeness.

Preliminary data shows promising results. However, CSC workflows and culture require context-specific adaptation. This study leverages the Model for Adaptation Design and Impact to adapt THRIVE for CSCs, test feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness, and conduct a pilot RCT in two CSCs. The CSC-adapted intervention addresses interpersonal drivers of suicide risk and bolsters safety, recovery, and community linkage through: (a) a 'belonging and giving' group during CSC stay, (b) recovery coaching calls for 4 weeks post-discharge, and (c) an optional phone app that provides reinforcement and resources for connection. The pilot will compare THRIVE + Discharge/Safety Planning (D/SP) to D/SP alone, examining the degree to which THRIVE engages the targeted mechanisms of change at one- and three-months post-discharge.

Aim 1. Adapt THRIVE and complete CSC-specific manual using MADI.

Aim 2. Test feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness of THRIVE for CSCs. CSC Guests (n = 20). 75% of guests will participate in a THRIVE group and at least one follow-up session within one month of discharge. Ratings of acceptability and satisfaction will be ≧ 75%.

CSC Staff (n = 4). Fidelity ratings of audio recordings of group and coaching calls with be at least

≧ 75% for all staff who deliver THRIVE. CSC Administrators will rate acceptability and appropriateness of THRIVE for CSCs as ≧ 75%.

Aim 3. Conduct a randomized pilot effectiveness trial (n = 100) to assess the effect of THRIVE on treatment initiation and on key interpersonal drivers of suicide - belongingness and burdensomeness. We hypothesize that CSC guests who receive THRIVE + D/SP vs. D/SP alone will have:

H1: Higher rates of treatment initiation at 1 month and 3 months from CSC discharge.

H2. Increased belongingness and decreased burdensomeness at 1 and 3 months after discharge.

We will explore the effect of the intervention on treatment engagement, acute care psychiatric readmissions, and suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior over 3-month follow-up. At the end of the study, THRIVE for CSCs will be ready to test in an effectiveness trial for preventing suicidal behavior.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-11-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-11-23
• Study First Posted: 2022-12-05
• Study Start: 2024-04-18
• Status Verified: 2024-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-04
• Last Update Posted: 2025-03-07
• Primary Completion: 2025-06-30
• Study Completion: 2026-04-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

1. Admission to CSC with suicidal crisis, as defined by active suicide ideation ascertained by the Columbia Suicide-Severity Rating scale, which the sites already routinely administer.
2. Ability and willingness to provide information for and permission to contact one person in case of emergency or inability to reach the participant for follow-up

Exclusion Criteria

1. Under age 18.
2. Inability to communicate with the researcher in English.
3. Acute psychiatric instability (e.g., psychotic symptoms). Most patients with psychosis are transferred to Emergency Departments instead of CSCs, so we do not expect many exclusions based on this criterion.
4. Inability to access a phone to participate in phone follow-up program.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
THRIVE + Discharge / Safety Planning	THRIVE (Toward Hope, Recovery, Interpersonal Growth, Values, and Engagement)	Participants assigned to the intervention condition will receive THRIVE Crisis Recovery and Care Transition Program, which consists of group-based reflections on "giving and belonging" and a plan for community connection and treatment, followed by 3-4 coaching calls to reinforce and troubleshoot the plans.
Discharge / Safety Planning Alone	Discharge / Safety Planning	Participants assigned to the control condition will receive Discharge/Safety Planning as it is practiced by Connections Health Solutions per industry best practices.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Perceived Burdensomeness	3 months after discharge	Perceived Burdensomeness Items of Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire. Scale has 5 items scored 0 to 2. Range= 0-10 (lower=better outcome)
Treatment Initiation	3 months after discharge	Psychological Problem Area subscale of the Treatment Services Review. This scale consists of 5 service review items in which the person states the number of times s/he received a specified service. Outcome of interest is 0 v. \> 0. \>0 = treatment initiation.
Thwarted Belongingness	3 months after discharge	Thwarted Belongingness Items of Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire. Scale has 5 items scored 0 to 2. Range= 0-10 (lower=better outcome)

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Connections Health-Urgent Psychiatric Center; 🇺🇸 Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Mental Health Cooperative; 🇺🇸 Nashville, Tennessee, United States