Developing a Mobile Intervention to Reduce Suicidal Cognitions in Veterans

NCT ID: NCT04881903

Last Updated: 2025-02-20

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 10 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-12-01
• Study Completion Date: 2024-02-01

Brief Summary

Suicide cognitions are conceptualized as enduring, chronic vulnerability factors that predispose individuals to suicidal crises. Therefore, modification of these beliefs may reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The goal of this research is to develop, refine, and pilot-test a mobile intervention to reduce cognitions that contribute to elevated suicide risk and to assess the impact of reductions in suicide cognitions and anger cognitions on suicide risk and functioning.

Detailed Description

Suicide cognitions are conceptualized as enduring, chronic vulnerability factors that predispose individuals to suicidal crises. Therefore, modification of these beliefs may reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In addition to suicide cognitions, another potentially modifiable risk factor for suicide is anger. The goal of this research is to develop, refine, and pilot-test a mobile interpretation bias modification intervention to reduce cognitions that contribute to elevated suicide risk and to assess the impact of reductions in suicide cognitions and hostile interpretation bias (a cognitive bias that is associated with anger) on suicide risk and functioning.

Conditions

Suicide

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

MIST intervention followed by MIRA intervention

These are both mobile interventions that use interpretation bias modification (IBM) techniques to reduce cognitive biases. The MIST app targets suicidal cognitions and the MIRA app targets hostile interpretation bias (which contributes to anger). The MIRA application has already been developed, but the MIST application is newly developed based on the same procedures. All participants will complete the MIST intervention and provide feedback so that we can refine it. We will also be collecting EMA data on to examine how changes to suicide cognitions and hostile interpretation bias (by use of the two apps) affects suicidal ideation and functioning.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Mobile Intervention for Suicidal Thoughts (MIST)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

This is an interpretation bias modification intervention that is designed to target cognitive factors that contribute to suicide risk. Participants will be instructed to complete at least 5 treatment sessions per week for a period of 4 weeks. Each session takes approximately 10 minutes.

Mobile Intervention for Reducing Anger (MIRA)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

This is an interpretation bias modification intervention that is designed to target hostile interpretation bias. Participants will be instructed to complete at least 5 treatment sessions per week for a period of 4 weeks. Each session takes approximately 10 minutes.

Interventions

Mobile Intervention for Suicidal Thoughts (MIST)

This is an interpretation bias modification intervention that is designed to target cognitive factors that contribute to suicide risk. Participants will be instructed to complete at least 5 treatment sessions per week for a period of 4 weeks. Each session takes approximately 10 minutes.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Mobile Intervention for Reducing Anger (MIRA)

This is an interpretation bias modification intervention that is designed to target hostile interpretation bias. Participants will be instructed to complete at least 5 treatment sessions per week for a period of 4 weeks. Each session takes approximately 10 minutes.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Veterans 18 years or older
• Diagnosed with PTSD, established via the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)
• Report a score of 12 on the 5-item Dimensions of Anger Reactions Scale
• Can read at least 6th grade level material
• Report a score of 1-3 (indicating ideation without intent) on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
• Have attended a mental health appointment within the past month, with another scheduled in the following month (i.e., be engaged in treatment with a mental health provider)

Exclusion Criteria

• Diagnosed with bipolar or psychotic disorder.
• Current substance use disorder.
• Current imminent suicide risk or homicidal ideation requiring immediate intervention.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

VA Office of Research and Development

FED

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Kirsten H Dillon, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC

Locations

Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Countries

United States

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

CRX 21-001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id