The BEAR Program for Women With Trauma Who Have Suicidal Thoughts

NCT07346638 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 79226
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The current study aims to test the feasibility of a new form of group therapy for women who have a history of interpersonal trauma and current suicidal ideation. The Building Empowerment and Resilience (BEAR) Therapeutic group has been adapted for women who have experienced trauma and have current suicidal ideation. It incorporates psychological skills, psychoeducation about trauma and gender-based violence, and physical self-defense training, all within a therapeutic process. It will be implemented with women who have experienced interpersonal trauma (physical, sexual, or emotional abuse/neglect) and experience various mental health difficulties, including suicidal ideation. We aim to assess the feasibility to recruit and implement the BEAR group. Our ultimate aim is to assess whether the program can effect self-efficacy and suicidal ideation.

Conditions

Interpersonal Trauma; Depression; PTSD; Anxiety; Suicidal Ideations; Sexual Assault

Keywords

interpersonal trauma; sexual assault; suicidal ideation; self-defense

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Coping self-efficacy

  This scale ranges from 0-286, with 0 indicating no confidence in managing stressors to 286 indicating very high level of confidence that one could do a particular behavior

  Baseline to 12 weeks (post-group)

• Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation

  Assesses amount of suicidal thinking. The total BSS score can range from 0, with no suicidal thinking to 38 points, severe level of suicidal thinking.

  Baseline to 12 weeks (post-group)

Other Outcomes (1)

• Retention in the group

  12 weeks (post-group)

Study Arms (1)

BEAR therapy group

EXPERIMENTAL

BEAR therapy intervention

Behavioral: BEAR-SI

Interventions

BEAR-SI BEHAVIORAL

The BEAR Therapeutic program is a twelve-week group that meets once per week for 1.5 hours per week. The program includes three main components. The first is a psycho-educational component which provides current information about assault statistics, common risk factors, myths that are often associated assault, and safety related information The second component focuses on the development of an assortment of interpersonal skills. This part of the group offers skills such as assertiveness or communication training, boundary setting, and coping skills. The third component of our intervention consists of a thorough set of self-defense skills that help women to keep themselves safe. The repertoire of skills include recognizing unsafe situations, utilizing one's voice, and release from holds. This section provides ample practice blocks, resistance skills, and specific techniques to keep one's self safe.

BEAR therapy group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Women ages 18-75
• History of physical, sexual, and/or sexual emotional violence, with subsequent interpersonal or psychological distress (e.g., depression or anxiety) related to this history.
• Current suicidal thinking

You may not qualify if:

• Active, significant substance abuse, which could interfere with participation
• Significant medical conditions that would preclude safe participation in the study
• No history of interpersonal trauma
• Acute psychiatric instability
• History of assaultive behavior or is judged to be a potential risk to assault others.
• No current suicidal ideation or behaviors
• Unable to commit to the group for 12 weeks in-person

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Stanford University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Stanford University School of Medicine

Stanford, California, 94305, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (5)

• Hollander, J. A., & Cunningham, J. (2020). Empowerment Self-Defense Training in a Community Population. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 44(2), 187-202. https://doi-org.laneproxy.stanford.edu/10.1177/0361684319897937

  BACKGROUND

• Smith, S.G., et al. (2017). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010-2012 State Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  BACKGROUND

• Denneson LM, Smolenski DJ, Bauer BW, Dobscha SK, Bush NE. The Mediating Role of Coping Self-Efficacy in Hope Box Use and Suicidal Ideation Severity. Arch Suicide Res. 2019 Apr-Jun;23(2):234-246. doi: 10.1080/13811118.2018.1456383. Epub 2018 Jul 11.

  PMID: 29624123 BACKGROUND

• Cieslak R, Benight CC, Caden Lehman V. Coping self-efficacy mediates the effects of negative cognitions on posttraumatic distress. Behav Res Ther. 2008 Jul;46(7):788-98. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2008.03.007. Epub 2008 Mar 18.

  PMID: 18456241 BACKGROUND

• Dworkin ER, DeCou CR, Fitzpatrick S. Associations between sexual assault and suicidal thoughts and behavior: A meta-analysis. Psychol Trauma. 2022 Oct;14(7):1208-1211. doi: 10.1037/tra0000570. Epub 2020 Mar 23.

  PMID: 32202845 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Anxiety Disorders; Suicidal Ideation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Suicide; Self-Injurious Behavior

Study Officials

• Jennifer Keller, PhD

  Stanford University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Clinical Research Coordinator

CONTACT

650-724-7184; bearstudy@stanford.edu

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: Clinical Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 19, 2025
• First Posted: January 16, 2026
• Study Start: February 17, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2028
• Last Updated: February 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)