NCT06686901

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Smartphone Delivered Treatment for Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study aims to evaluate the acceptability, safety, and efficacy of a smartphone-delivered intervention called Therapeutic Evaluative Conditioning for Suicide (TEC-S) in reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) among adults with recent and frequent suicide ideation.

Detailed description

The present study is a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to evaluate the safety, acceptability, and efficacy of Therapeutic Evaluative Conditioning for Suicide (TEC-S), a smartphone-delivered intervention aimed at reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB). Participants in this study will be 60 adult participants (ages 18+) who report recent and frequent STB, residing within the greater-Boston, Ma area. Participants will be randomized to receive either the control condition, which consists of 3x/daily ecological momentary assessment (EMA) of emotions and STBs and optional inactive TEC (n = 30), or the experimental condition, consisting of 3x/daily EMA and optional active TEC-S (n = 30). Evaluative conditioning uses classical conditioning to alter attitudes. The aim of TEC-S is to alter attitudes toward suicide and, in turn, reduce STB. EMAs will monitor STB, safety, and acceptability, and efficacy. Weekly behavioral and self-report assays will assess hypothesized treatment mechanisms. The study's aim is to determine if the active TEC-S condition reduces STB and to explore if altered attitudes toward suicide mediates this effect.

Conditions

• Suicidal Ideation
• Suicide Attempt

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Smartphone-delivered Therapeutic Evaluative Conditioning for Suicide (TEC-S)	Therapeutic Evaluative Conditioning for Suicide (active TEC-S) is a behavioral treatment where participants are given optional access to a computerized task/game where they repeatedly pair suicidal behavior stimuli (pictures, words) with other negative stimuli and self-related stimuli with positive stimuli.
BEHAVIORAL	Smartphone-delivered inactive Therapeutic Evaluative Conditioning	Therapeutic Evaluative Conditioning (inactive TEC-S) is a behavioral treatment where participants are given optional access to a computerized task/game where they repeatedly pair positive and negative stimuli (pictures, words) with each other.

Timeline

• Start date: 2027-04-01
• Primary completion: 2029-07-01
• Completion: 2029-08-31
• First posted: 2024-11-13
• Last updated: 2026-01-26