NCT05613972

Brief Summary

The investigators have developed a novel suicide intervention, Integrated Suicide and Trauma Therapy (ISTT). ISTT combines Brief-Skills for Safer Living (Brief-SfSL)-a promising method to enhance coping skills and reduce suicidality-with a trauma therapy component to alleviate the specific impacts of childhood trauma on suicide risk. The aim of this pilot is to test 12-weeks of ISTT to alleviate suicide risk among individuals with a history of childhood trauma and current suicidality.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
20

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
11mo left

Started Dec 2025

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

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 Progress32%
Dec 2025Apr 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

October 28, 2022

Completed
17 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 14, 2022

Completed
3.1 years until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 8, 2025

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 1, 2026

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 1, 2027

Expected
Last Updated

January 15, 2026

Status Verified

December 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

4 months

First QC Date

October 28, 2022

Last Update Submit

January 13, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

Childhood traumaEarly life adversityAdverse childhood experiencesSuicide interventionPsychotherapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Change in Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS) score

    Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation is a 21-item self-report scale that quantifies suicidal ideation. Items are scored 0 to 2 and yield a total score ranging from 0 to 38. Higher scores reflect greater severity of suicidal ideation.

    From baseline to 1 week post-therapy

  • Feasibility and acceptability of ISTT

    Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM), Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM), in addition to a feedback survey and interview created in-house with questions designed to collect quantitative and qualitative feedback from participants with respect to the feasibility and acceptability of the BSTT intervention.

    From baseline to 1 week post-therapy

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Change in Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) score

    From baseline to 1-week post therapy

  • Change in Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms 16-item scale (QIDS) score

    From baseline to 1 week post-therapy

  • Change in Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale 36-item scale (DERS) score

    From baseline to 1 week post-therapy

Study Arms (1)

Integrated Suicide and Trauma Therapy (BSTT)

EXPERIMENTAL

This novel suicide intervention integrates Brief Skills for Safer Learning (B-SfSL) with trauma therapy. ISTT incorporates the guiding principles of taking a non-pathologizing approach to treatment, emphasizing safety, attending to the therapeutic relationship, empowering clients, and incorporating solution-focused concepts.

Other: Integrated Suicide and Trauma Therapy

Interventions

12-week trauma therapy for suicide risk

Integrated Suicide and Trauma Therapy (BSTT)

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

  • Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation \> 10
  • Presence of childhood trauma defined by a minimum moderate score on any of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire subscales (emotional abuse, physical, abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect
  • Presence of any psychiatric diagnosis
  • Ability to provide informed consent
  • Not receiving other psychotherapy concurrently
  • Ability to undergo psychotherapy in English

You may not qualify if:

  • The presence of cognitive impairment that would limit consent or understanding of ISTT
  • The presence of active psychosis
  • Unwilling or unable to provide informed consent

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

St. Michael's Hospital

Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1M8, Canada

RECRUITING

Related Publications (48)

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MeSH Terms

Conditions

SuicideWounds and InjuriesDepressive Disorder, Major

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Self-Injurious BehaviorBehavioral SymptomsBehaviorDepressive DisorderMood DisordersMental Disorders

Study Officials

  • Sakina Rizvi, PhD,MACP,RP

    Unity Health Toronto

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Sakina Rizvi, PhD,MACP,RP

CONTACT

Aleksandra Lalovic, PhD,MEd,RP

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NA
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
SINGLE GROUP
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

October 28, 2022

First Posted

November 14, 2022

Study Start

December 8, 2025

Primary Completion

April 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Last Updated

January 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations