Effectiveness of a Family-Based Intervention for Adolescent Suicide Attempters (The SAFETY Study)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an individually tailored suicide prevention treatment program called SAFETY in reducing suicide and suicide attempts in adolescents.

Detailed Description
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Suicide is consistently a leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States, making suicide prevention a serious public health concern. The risk factors for suicide vary but are often related to depression and other mental disorders, substance abuse, a major stressful event, and family history of suicide. Despite the morbidity and mortality associated with suicide attempts in adolescents, there is a lack of empirically supported treatment strategies and consensus regarding the best practices for suicide prevention. The SAFETY intervention is an individually tailored treatment strategy that integrates family- and community-based interventions and cognitive behavioral therapy and links youth to needed services and resources. SAFETY may be an effective means of reducing suicide attempts and improving mental health in at-risk adolescents. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of SAFETY in reducing suicide and suicide attempts in adolescents. This study will be divided into two phases. Participants in Phase I will all receive 12 weeks of the family-based cognitive behavioral therapy intervention SAFETY. Phase I will be used to develop the intervention manual, protocols, and adherence measures for SAFETY in Phase II. Phase I participants will undergo assessments at baseline and Week 12. Assessments will last 90 minutes and will include a series of interviews and questionnaires concerning family, general health, and mental health-related issues. Participants in Phase II will be assigned randomly to receive 12 weeks of SAFETY or enhanced usual care. The frequency of sessions, which will involve both youth and parent participants, will vary on the basis of the individual needs of participants. SAFETY sessions will be individually tailored for each participant's specific needs and will include the following elements: (1) family- and community-based interventions aimed at mobilizing family and community networks that support youth safety, adaptive behavior, and reasons for living; (2) cognitive behavioral treatment modules that focus on decreasing suicidality and preventing repeat suicide attempts; and (3) an individualized care linkage strategy that links youth to needed services and resources. At baseline, Week 12, and Month 6, all youth and parent participants will undergo the same assessments that were performed during Phase I.

Official Title
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Family Based Intervention for Adolescent Suicide Attempters

Conditions
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Suicide

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: SAFETY
* Behavioral: Enhanced usual care


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Suicide attempt in the 3 months before study entry Exclusion Criteria: Psychosis Substance dependency Immediate risk of out-of-home placement Symptoms/conditions that would interfere with assessment and/or intervention protocols

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 12 Years
Maximum Age: 19 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: SAFETY I<br>Phase I participants who will receive SAFETY | Behavioral: SAFETY<br>* Participants will receive a family-based cognitive behavioral therapy intervention called SAFETY for 12 weeks. The SAFETY intervention is an individually tailored intervention strategy that integrates (1) family- and community-based interventions aimed at mobilizing family and community networks that support youth safety, adaptive behavior, and reasons for living; (2) cognitive behavioral treatment modules that focus on decreasing suicidality and preventing repeat suicide attempts; and (3) an individualized care linkage strategy that links youth to needed services and resources.<br>|
| Experimental: SAFETY II<br>Phase II participants who will receive SAFETY | Behavioral: SAFETY<br>* Participants will receive a family-based cognitive behavioral therapy intervention called SAFETY for 12 weeks. The SAFETY intervention is an individually tailored intervention strategy that integrates (1) family- and community-based interventions aimed at mobilizing family and community networks that support youth safety, adaptive behavior, and reasons for living; (2) cognitive behavioral treatment modules that focus on decreasing suicidality and preventing repeat suicide attempts; and (3) an individualized care linkage strategy that links youth to needed services and resources.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Control<br>Phase II participants who will receive enhanced usual care | Behavioral: Enhanced usual care<br>* Enhanced usual care will include treatment as usual enhanced by study support.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hospitalization |  | Measured at Month 3 | 
| Repeat suicide attempts |  | Measured at Month 3 | 
| Satisfaction with mental health services |  | Measured at Month 3 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Suicide Attempts, Adolescents, Suicidal, Adolescent Suicide Attempters