NCT03380117

Brief Summary

Electronic Bridge to Mental Health for College Students (eBridge) is an online intervention that screens students for mental health concerns that include elevated suicide risk and facilitates their linkage to mental health (MH) services. EBridge is designed to work on computers, tablets, and smartphones (iOS, Android) and is easily adaptable to evolving technologies in the future. It incorporates motivational interviewing (MI) principles and draws from health behavior models that emphasize autonomy and self-determination. Following a web-based screen using standardized scales to identify students at elevated risk, eBridge offers students options for personalized feedback (provided online in a conversational format adherent with motivational interviewing) and corresponding online with professionals trained in motivational interviewing and knowledgeable about university and community resources. Ebridge is being conducted at four universities: the University of Michigan, the University of Nevada-Reno, the University of Iowa, and Stanford University.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
6,241

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Nov 2014

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

4 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 11, 2014

Completed
3 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 15, 2017

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

December 20, 2017

Completed
1.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

May 7, 2019

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

May 7, 2019

Completed
Last Updated

August 1, 2019

Status Verified

July 1, 2019

Enrollment Period

4.5 years

First QC Date

November 15, 2017

Last Update Submit

July 31, 2019

Conditions

SuicideDepression

Keywords

Suicidal IdeationSuicide AttemptRisk ScreeningOnline InterventionOnline CounselingCollege StudentsMotivational InterviewingLinkage to Care

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

  • Change in mental health service utilization

    Change in the number of participants accessing mental health services include psychotherapy, psychopharmacological treatment, or a combination.

    Baseline, 4 weeks, 6 months

  • Adherence to mental health services, as measured by yes/no response for 4-week period.

    Mental health services include psychotherapy, psychopharmacological treatment, or a combination.

    4 weeks

  • Adherence to mental health services, as measured by total # of sessions for 4-week period.

    Mental health services include psychotherapy, psychopharmacological treatment, or a combination.

    4 weeks

  • Adherence to mental health services, as measured by yes/no response for 6-month period.

    Mental health services include psychotherapy, psychopharmacological treatment, or a combination.

    6 months

  • Adherence to mental health services, as measured by total # of sessions for 6-month period.

    Mental health services include psychotherapy, psychopharmacological treatment, or a combination.

    6 months

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Change in suicidal thoughts

    Baseline, 4 weeks, 6 months

  • Change in suicidal thoughts

    Baseline, 4 weeks, 6 months

  • Change in suicide attempts

    Baseline, 4 weeks, 6 months

  • Change in depression, as measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

    Baseline, 4 weeks, 6 months

  • Change in substance misuse

    Baseline, 6 months

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Other Outcomes (2)

  • Academic performance, as measured by grade point average

    6 months

  • Academic performance, as measured by retention

    6 months

Study Arms (2)

eBridge Online Counseling

EXPERIMENTAL

In the eBridge condition, personalized feedback is provided in a graphic format that is accompanied by motivational-interviewing-adherent statements. In this condition, students have the opportunity to engage with eBridge counselors via online dialogues, in which students and counselors exchange messages using a secure website.

Behavioral: eBridge Online Counseling

Control

NO INTERVENTION

In the control condition, personalized feedback will also be delivered online to students, highlighting their personal data and specify links between key screening variables and negative outcomes. However, in the control condition, this is provided in a straightforward graphic, informational format, which is consistent with standard practice in online screening programs for college students.

Interventions

eBridge Online CounselingBEHAVIORAL

In eBridge, students take an online screen and receive personalized feedback about their self-reported depression, alcohol/substance use, and level of functioning. Students are randomly assigned to either the eBridge or control condition. In the eBridge condition, personalized feedback is provided in a graphic format that is accompanied by motivational-interviewing-adherent statements. In this condition, students' communications with eBridge counselors will occur via online dialogues, in which students and counselors exchange messages using a secure website. In the control condition, personalized feedback will also be delivered online to students, highlighting their personal data and specify links between key screening variables and negative outcomes. However, in the control condition, this is provided in a straightforward graphic, informational format, which is consistent with standard practice in online screening programs for college students.

eBridge Online Counseling

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • at least 18 years old
  • currently enrolled full- or part-time at a participating university

You may not qualify if:

  • not currently living in the university community (e.g., completing a study abroad semester)

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (4)

Stanford University

Stanford, California, 94305, United States

Location

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States

Location

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States

Location

University of Nevada-Reno

Reno, Nevada, 89557, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

  • Bornheimer LA, Czyz E, Koo HJ, Li Verdugo J, Eisenberg D, Zheng K, Pistorello J, Albucher RC, Coryell W, Favorite T, King CA. Suicide risk profiles and barriers to professional help-seeking among college students with elevated risk for suicide. J Psychiatr Res. 2022 Aug;152:305-312. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.06.028. Epub 2022 Jun 18.

    PMID: 35772258DERIVED

  • Horwitz AG, McGuire T, Busby DR, Eisenberg D, Zheng K, Pistorello J, Albucher R, Coryell W, King CA. Sociodemographic differences in barriers to mental health care among college students at elevated suicide risk. J Affect Disord. 2020 Jun 15;271:123-130. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.115. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

    PMID: 32479307DERIVED

  • Horwitz AG, Berona J, Busby DR, Eisenberg D, Zheng K, Pistorello J, Albucher R, Coryell W, Favorite T, Walloch JC, King CA. Variation in Suicide Risk among Subgroups of Sexual and Gender Minority College Students. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2020 Oct;50(5):1041-1053. doi: 10.1111/sltb.12637. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

    PMID: 32291833DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

SuicideDepressionSuicidal IdeationSuicide, Attempted

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Self-Injurious BehaviorBehavioral SymptomsBehavior

Study Officials

  • Cheryl King, Ph.D.

    Professor

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: In eBridge, students take an online screen and receive personalized feedback about their self-reported depression, alcohol/substance use, and level of functioning. Students are randomly assigned to either the eBridge or control condition. In the eBridge condition, personalized feedback is provided in a graphic format that is accompanied by motivational-interviewing-adherent statements. In this condition, students' communications with eBridge counselors will occur via online dialogues, in which students and counselors exchange messages using a secure website. In the control condition, personalized feedback will also be delivered online to students, highlighting their personal data and specify links between key screening variables and negative outcomes. However, in the control condition, this is provided in a straightforward graphic, informational format, which is consistent with standard practice in online screening programs for college students.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 15, 2017

First Posted

December 20, 2017

Study Start

November 11, 2014

Primary Completion

May 7, 2019

Study Completion

May 7, 2019

Last Updated

August 1, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-07

Locations

US(4)