Development of a Positive Psychology Intervention to Reduce Suicide Risk

NCT01398891 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2010P002826
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

Suicidal Ideation; Suicide Attempt

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Completion of exercises

  Exercises assigned each day and assessed for completion the next day (a total of eight exercises)

  Every 24 hours until all exercises administered or discharge occurs

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Optimism

  Baseline and on the date of discharge (average length of admission= 2 weeks)

• Feasibility and utility of exercises

  Assessed within 24 hours of exercise completion

• Hopelessness

  Baseline and on the date of discharge (average length of admission=2 weeks)

Study Arms (1)

Positive Psychology Exercises

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Positive Psychology Exercises

Interventions

Positive Psychology Exercises OTHER

At each session, the interventionalist will prepare the subject to complete a randomly-selected positive psychology exercise, lasting approximately 20 minutes, within the next 24 hours. He or she will describe the rationale for the exercise and the details of the exercise, and will answer any questions. A sheet with written instructions (matching the verbal instructions) for the exercise will be provided, with space for recording the exercise and an area to provide ratings on the exercise. On the following day, the interventionalist will review the prior day's exercise (and record whether it was completed). The exercises will be completed daily on weekdays for a maximum of 8 days.

Positive Psychology Exercises

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• Psychotic symptoms
• Cognitive disorder

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Massachusetts General Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Suicidal Ideation; Suicide, Attempted

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Suicide; Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Jeff C Huffman, MD

  Massachusetts General Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Medical Director, Blake 11

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 15, 2011
• First Posted: July 21, 2011
• Study Start: May 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2013
• Study Completion: March 1, 2013
• Last Updated: March 5, 2013

Record last verified: 2013-03

Locations

US (1)