(Cost)-Effectiveness of ABFT for Suicidal Youth.
REPAIR
Targeting Suicidality in Young Adults: a Randomized, Controlled Pragmatic, Multicentre Trial Evaluating the (Cost)-Effectiveness of Attachment Based Family Therapy Compared to Treatment as Usual
2 other identifiers
interventional
138
2 countries
13
Brief Summary
Young adults who attempt to kill themselves is a common and serious mental health problem worldwide and certainly in Belgium and the Netherlands. Fatal suicide is the leading cause of death among young adults. It has devastating consequences both for the young adults themselves and for their families. It also has substantial economic costs. However, up until now, there is little research on the treatment of suicidality among young adults. The current psychological therapy approaches and drug treatments for young people at very high risk of fatal suicide attempts have only limited success. Increasing evidence indicates the importance of involving significant others in treatment and the importance of the unfulfilled need for belonging and secure attachment. The WHO recommends involving significant others in the treatment of suicidal young adults. However, in Belgium and the Netherlands, there is little knowledge on the effectiveness of family based treatments. Attachment Based Family Therapy, or ABFT, was shown to work well in several studies in the US. Also in Belgium and the Netherlands, ABFT is being used to treat suicidal young adults. However, how well it works compared to the current treatment and if it provides good value for money have not been studied in young adults. In the proposed study the investigators will test, in a real-life situation, whether ABFT works better than the current treatment and if it provides good value for money. This study is a collaboration between the Netherlands and Belgium and 6 or 7 sites will participate from each country. Sites can be hospitals, mental health centres, student health centres or private practices. Participants (138 individuals) are young adults between 18 and 25 years old who have frequent thoughts about killing themselves, and who seek mental health treatment. The investigators predict that, compared to current treatment, ABFT will reduce suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts and that this improvement will be maintained over time, and that it will be better value for money. The project will contribute to improving care for suicidal young adults with high suicide risk. Results will inform clinical guidelines and policymakers and improve the treatment of young adults with a high risk for fatal suicide, and their families.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable
Started Oct 2023
Typical duration for not_applicable
13 active sites
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
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
July 7, 2023
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
July 28, 2023
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
October 5, 2023
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
November 15, 2025
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
November 14, 2026
ExpectedAugust 22, 2024
August 1, 2024
2.1 years
July 7, 2023
August 20, 2024
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Suicidality
Suicidality is assessed by the Suicide Ideation Questionnaire Junior (SIQ-JR; Reynolds \& Mazza, 1999). Scores can range from 0 to 90, with a cut-off score of 31 indicating suicidality.
Measures change at: baseline, immediately after intervention, follow-up: 3 months after intervention, 6 months after intervention, 12 months after intervention.
Secondary Outcomes (13)
Suicide ideation
Measures change at: baseline, immediately after intervention, follow-up: 3 months after intervention, 12 months after intervention.
Suicide attempts
Measures change at: baseline, immediately after intervention, follow-up: 3 months after intervention, 12 months after intervention.
Depression (DSM-5)
Measures change at: baseline, immediately after intervention, follow-up: 3 months after intervention, 12 months after intervention.
Depressive symptoms
Measures change at: baseline, immediately after intervention, follow-up: 3 months after intervention, 6 months after intervention, 12 months after intervention.
Parental vision on the young adults depressive symptoms
Measures change at: baseline, immediately after intervention, follow-up: 3 months after intervention, 6 months after intervention, 12 months after intervention.
- +8 more secondary outcomes
Other Outcomes (5)
Childhood Trauma
Baseline.
Working Alliance Inventory
Every 2 months during intervention starting at the first session.
Treatment fidelity
Every 2 months during intervention starting at the first session
- +2 more other outcomes
Study Arms (2)
Attachment Based Family Therapy + Treatment As Usual
EXPERIMENTALAttachment Based Family Therapy (ABFT) is a manualized treatment, that emerges from interpersonal theories that suggest suicide can be precipitated, exacerbated, or buffered against by the quality of family relationships. Parent(s)/caregiver(s) will be involved in the therapy. In the experimental group, patients will receive ABFT as an add-on therapy besides treatment as usual (TAU).
Treatment As Usual
PLACEBO COMPARATORTreatment as Usual (TAU) contains all regular interventions that are currently used to treat suicidality. In the TAU group, a limited number of systemic family therapy sessions will be given (maximum 4 sessions).
Interventions
Attachment Based Family Therapy (ABFT): ABFT is a manualized treatment, that emerges from interpersonal theories that suggest suicide can be precipitated, exacerbated, or buffered against by the quality of family relationships. Therefore, ABFT focuses on strengthening parent-child attachment bonds to create a protective and secure base for young adult development. Sessions are scheduled weekly, and the intervention lasts on average 16 weeks. The participants in the ABFT condition will also receive treatment as usual (TAU).
The participants in the treatment as usual (TAU) condition will only receive regular existing care to treat suicidality in young adults.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Aged between 18 and 25.
- A score above 31 on the SIQ-JR (the cut-off for suicidality).
- Have at least one primary parent or caregiver that participates in the assessment and treatment. This could be a biological parent, stepparent, grandparent, other relative, or a foster parent.
You may not qualify if:
- Other DSM-5 disorders: substance dependency: severe alcohol or cannabis use disorder, all other substances: modest or severe substance use disorder.
- Severe conduct disorder.
- Evidence of psychotic features or prior psychosis (assessed with the SCID-5-S).
- Severe cognitive impairment (e.g., mental retardation, severe developmental disorders) as evidenced by educational records, parental report and/or clinical impression.
- Other circumstances that might affect participation (e.g., severe medical disorder, relocation).
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (13)
Prakijkt ConnectUs
Tongeren, Limburg, 3700, Belgium
UGent Centrum Kind en Adolescent
Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, 9000, Belgium
UPC KU Leuven, campus Kortenberg
Kortenberg, Vlaams-Brabant, 3070, Belgium
PraxisP
Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, 3000, Belgium
STUVO Psychologen en Psychiaters
Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, 3000, Belgium
Praktijk Annemie Uyttersprot
Merchtem, Vlaams-Brabant, 1785, Belgium
GGzE
Eindhoven, North Brabant, Netherlands
GGZ Oost Brabant
Oss, North Brabant, Netherlands
Academisch Medisch Centrum
Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
Arkin
Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
Levvel
Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
Kenter Jeugdhulp
Santpoort-Noord, North Holland, Netherlands
GGz Centraal
Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands
Related Publications (1)
Bockting C, Bosmans G, Bergers N, Gavan L, Hiligsmann M, de Beurs D, Molenberghs G, Wijnen B, Lokkerbol J, van der Spek N. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of attachment-based family therapy for young adults with high suicidal ideation: protocol of a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2024 Oct 16;25(1):686. doi: 10.1186/s13063-024-08499-7.
PMID: 39415182DERIVED
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- STUDY DIRECTOR
Nadia van der Spek, PhD
Academic Medical Center (AMC)
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Claudi Bockting, professor
Academic Medical Center (AMC)
- STUDY DIRECTOR
Guy Bosmans, Professor
KU Leuven
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Masking Details
- Part of the research team that will collect and analyse the data are blinded.
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Professor
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
July 7, 2023
First Posted
July 28, 2023
Study Start
October 5, 2023
Primary Completion
November 15, 2025
Study Completion (Estimated)
November 14, 2026
Last Updated
August 22, 2024
Record last verified: 2024-08
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share