A Comparison of Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP)

Investigations of Psychological Interventions in Suicide Prevention: A Comparison of Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program

The aim of this project is to assess if adding one of two structured suicide specific psychological interventions to a standardised clinical care approach improves outcomes for consumers presenting to a Mental Health Service with a suicide attempt.

The standardised care approach involves a Suicide Prevention Pathway (SPP) modelled on the Zero Suicide Framework.

The Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) is a manualised therapy composed of three therapy sessions following a suicide attempt, with subsequent follow up over two years with personalised mailed letters. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-Based Psychoeducational Intervention is a manualised approach involving brief CBT for suicide in five 60 minute sessions. The intervention incorporates skills development and emphasises internal self-management.

We will compare outcomes for:

1. The Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) + SPP, versus SPP alone
2. Five Sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) + SPP, versus SPP alone
3. CBT + SPP versus ASSIP + SPP.

Hypotheses:

1. The use of suicide specific psychological interventions (ASSIP; CBT) combined with a comprehensive clinical suicide prevention pathway (SPP) will have better outcomes than the clinical suicide prevention pathway alone.
2. Outcomes for the ASSIP + SPP and CBT + SPP will significantly differ.
3. Cost-benefit analyses will significantly differ between ASSIP and CBT.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Suicide, Attempted
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP); Behavioral: Suicide Prevention Pathway (SPP); Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Detailed Description

Key literature: Treatment approaches for suicide: The efficacy of various suicide prevention interventions has been the subject of research for some time, and includes a number of recent systematic reviews (e.g. Zalsman et al., 2016), and Gould, Greenberg, Velting, and Shaffer (2003) reviewed suicide prevention strategies specifically used with young people. Current national suicide prevention programs have highlighted the knowledge that suicide is a behaviour that stems from a complex and multifaceted set of circumstances and individual characteristics. These factors can be present across the human lifespan and occur across multiple cultural and community settings. The complex heterogeneous nature of the factors influencing suicide rates requires a collaborative and coordinated systems approach, incorporating strategies simultaneously implemented across multiple levels, including service systems, individualised interventions and community prevention. Despite this recognition, there remains a significant gap in the evidence base regarding the most effective interventions for use with suicide at the hospital service level.

In 2015, the Gold Coast Mental Heath and Specialist Services (GCMHSS) undertook a review of frameworks for suicide prevention to guide planning and choice of interventions, as well as enhancing the capability of the service and staff to provide interventions aimed at addressing the needs of people presenting as a result of a suicide attempt. Interventions were sought with available evidence of efficacy, based on outcomes obtained in clinical, controlled trials (particularly those suitable for the top six diagnostic related groups for mental health presenting to the Gold Coast Hospital Health Service (GCHHS), with the aim to provide recommendations for service wide implementation. The top six high priority mental health diagnostic groups included: schizophrenia & related disorders, mood/affective disorders, alcohol & substance related disorders, personality disorders, suicidal behaviours, and stress/adjustment/situational crisis. Two of the interventions that demonstrated the strongest quality of evidence included the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based psychological intervention.

This is a randomised controlled trial, with blinding of those assessing the outcomes.

Primary outcome measures: Representation to hospital with suicide attempt and/or suicidal ideations within 7, 14, 30 and 90 days post intervention. Death by suicide rates will also be examined. Death clearly assessed as not involving self-harm will be represented as not completing the study.

Secondary outcome measures: Self-reported level of suicidality, depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, problem solving skills and self- and therapist-reported level of therapeutic engagement.

Cost-benefit measures are assessed for both interventions.

All consumers who attempt suicide during the trial period, and are 16 years of age and older, will be offered the opportunity to join the trial. Specific demographic questions will identify the numbers of people who fall within specific target groups to enable a determination regarding any differences in the results being statistically significant.

A consumer/carer representative will participate on the research team, to inform the research and ensure sensitivity to the experiences of consumers with lived experience.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 411
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Chris Stapelberg, MD; Phone Number: 0405015430; Email: chris.stapelberg@health.qld.gov.au

Study Locations

• Australia
  • Queensland
    • Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 4215
      • Gold Coast Hospital Health
      • Contact: Chris Stapelberg, MD; Phone Number: 0405015430; Email: chris.stapelberg@health.qld.gov.au

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Consumers aged 16 years and above residing in the Gold Coast catchment area
• Presenting to the Gold Coast Hospital with a recent suicide attempt and then placed on the Suicide Prevention Pathway.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Refusal of, or inability to, consent
• People who are already receiving specialised psychological interventions (such as CBT) will be excluded due to the potential confounding effect, but not people taking psychotropic medication

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: ASSIP plus SPP; Participants in the ASSIP group will receive a combination of the comprehensive clinical SPP (i.e. standardised assessment, risk evaluation and formulation, safety planning and follow-up), and the ASSIP psychological intervention where they will receive three therapy sessions followed by regular ongoing contact through individually focused letters sent over 24 months.	Behavioral: Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP); The first session is based on a narrative interview with the consumer relating the personal story of how the point of attempting suicide was reached, videorecorded with consent. The second session involves the therapist and consumer watching the session together to reactivate the consumer's mental state during the crisis in a safe environment. Automatic thoughts, emotions, psychological pain and stress, and contingent behaviour are discussed. A psycho-educative handout is given to consumers. The third session involves discussing the handout. A credit card size leaflet is provided, with long term goals, individual warning signs and safety strategies listed, in addition to a card with crisis phone numbers. The sessions are followed by letters sent over 24 months (Michel, Valach & Gysin-Maillart, 2017).; Behavioral: Suicide Prevention Pathway (SPP); The standardised care approach involves a Suicide Prevention Pathway (SPP) modelled on the Zero Suicide Framework, utilising comprehensive chronological assessment of suicide events (CASE) (Shea, 2009) to elicit suicidal intent, the prevention orientated risk formulation (Pisani, Murrie, & Silverman, 2016), brief interventions conducted with the consumer during their initial assessment prior to the treatment setting (Stanley et al., 2016), Safety Planning Intervention, Counselling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), brief patient/carer information, rapid, structured follow up, safe transitions of care and caring contacts (Fleischmann et al., 2008). The SPP is supported by a blended learning course with online and face-to-face training for staff.
Experimental: CBT plus SPP; Participants in the CBT group will receive a combination of the comprehensive clinical SPP (i.e. standardised assessment, risk evaluation and formulation, safety planning and follow-up), and the CBT psychological intervention where they will receive five CBT 60-minute individual sessions.	Behavioral: Suicide Prevention Pathway (SPP); The standardised care approach involves a Suicide Prevention Pathway (SPP) modelled on the Zero Suicide Framework, utilising comprehensive chronological assessment of suicide events (CASE) (Shea, 2009) to elicit suicidal intent, the prevention orientated risk formulation (Pisani, Murrie, & Silverman, 2016), brief interventions conducted with the consumer during their initial assessment prior to the treatment setting (Stanley et al., 2016), Safety Planning Intervention, Counselling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), brief patient/carer information, rapid, structured follow up, safe transitions of care and caring contacts (Fleischmann et al., 2008). The SPP is supported by a blended learning course with online and face-to-face training for staff.; Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT); The intervention incorporates skills development and emphasises internal self-management. Therapy focuses on the identification of internal, external and/or thematic triggers for suicidal thinking and behaviours, as well as factors that maintain the desire to suicide, using thought records and/or chain analyses. Therapy aims to challenge distortions and misconceptions, including core beliefs that interfere with the motivation to initiate the process of problem solving and distress tolerance, by working on acceptance of emotional and/or physical pain. The final phase of treatment focuses on relapse prevention. CBT can challenge maladaptive beliefs, improve problem solving skills and social competence.
Active Comparator: SPP alone; The Suicide Prevention Pathway (SPP) comprises seven steps: i) Initial screening - persons experiencing suicide ideation and who may also have a history of, or recent, suicide attempt, are placed on the pathway; ii) Assessment of suicide risk iii) Formulation of suicide risk (based on a prevention oriented approach) iv) Safety planning (collaboratively developed with the client) and Counselling on access to lethal means v) Structured follow-up (within 24-48 hrs); vi) Transition of care plan; and vii) Caring contacts - ongoing contact/support for the person for the next 2 years (through personalised letters or phone texts).	Behavioral: Suicide Prevention Pathway (SPP); The standardised care approach involves a Suicide Prevention Pathway (SPP) modelled on the Zero Suicide Framework, utilising comprehensive chronological assessment of suicide events (CASE) (Shea, 2009) to elicit suicidal intent, the prevention orientated risk formulation (Pisani, Murrie, & Silverman, 2016), brief interventions conducted with the consumer during their initial assessment prior to the treatment setting (Stanley et al., 2016), Safety Planning Intervention, Counselling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), brief patient/carer information, rapid, structured follow up, safe transitions of care and caring contacts (Fleischmann et al., 2008). The SPP is supported by a blended learning course with online and face-to-face training for staff.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Re-presentation to hospital with suicide attempt and/or suicidal ideations	Re-presentations to hospital emergency department (ED) with suicide attempts and/or suicidal ideations will be examined post intervention	7 days post intervention
Re-presentation to hospital with suicide attempt and/or suicidal ideations	Re-presentations to hospital emergency department (ED) with suicide attempts and/or suicidal ideations will be examined post intervention	14 days post intervention
Re-presentation to hospital with suicide attempt and/or suicidal ideations	Re-presentations to hospital emergency department (ED) with suicide attempts and/or suicidal ideations will be examined post intervention	30 days post intervention
Re-presentation to hospital with suicide attempt and/or suicidal ideations	Re-presentations to hospital emergency department (ED) with suicide attempts and/or suicidal ideations will be examined post intervention	90 days post intervention
Death by suicide rates	Death by suicide rates will also be examined post intervention	24 months post intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)	The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is a suicide ideation and behaviour rating scale that supports suicide assessment through a series of simple, plain-language questions that anyone can ask. The maximum suicidal ideation category (1-5 on the C-SSRS) present at the assessment. A score of 0 indicates that no suicide ideation is present.	Baseline (pre-intervention); end of intervention (up to 5 weeks); and 6-, 12- and 24 months from baseline
Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS)	The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) is a set of three self-report scales (21 item version) designed to measure the negative emotional states of depression, anxiety and stress. For this short (21-item) version of the DASS, Stress, Anxiety, and Depression scores a multiplied by 2 to get a score of 42 for each subscale (score 0-42). Higher scores of each subscale indicate higher emotional states of depression, anxiety, or stress.	Baseline (pre-intervention); end of intervention (up to 5 weeks); and 6-, 12- and 24 months from baseline
The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS)	The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) is a 48 item self-report questionnaire for clinical and non-clinical settings. The CISS is a four-factor model of human coping with adversity. The construct differentiates three types of coping: emotion-orientated (7 items), task orientated (7 items), and avoidance (distracted or social; 7 items). Respondents rate each item on a five point scale: (1) Not at all to (5) Very much. Scores range from 7-35 for each subscale (emotion-orientated coping, task-orientated coping, and avoidance coping). Higher scores indicate greater preference for task-orientated, emotion-orientated, or avoidance coping style.	Baseline (pre-intervention); end of intervention (up to 5 weeks); and 6-, 12- and 24 months from baseline
Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA)	The Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) is a 33 item self-report measure of resilience for adults. Items are rated on a 7-point scale: (1) Not true at all to (7) Very True. Higher scores indicate greater resilience (range 33 to 231).	Baseline (pre-intervention); end of intervention (up to 5 weeks); and 6-, 12- and 24 months from baseline
Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ)	The Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ) is a 28 item self-report measure of resilience for adolescents. The scale consists of individual, family and external supports conceptual categories, and has been used to screen and profile for intervention. Items are rated on a 5-point scale: (1) Totally disagree (5) Totally agere. Higher scores indicate greater resilience (range 28 to 140).	Baseline (pre-intervention); end of intervention (up to 5 weeks); and 6-, 12- and 24 months from baseline
The revised Helping Alliance Questionnaire - II (HAqII)	The revised Helping Alliance Questionnaire - II (HAqll) is a 19 item self-report questionnaire used to evaluate the quality of the patient-therapist relationship. Items are rated from (1) Strongly disagree to (6) Strongly agree. Total score ranges from 19 to 114. Higher scores indicate greater therapeutic alliance.	Baseline (pre-intervention); end of intervention (up to 5 weeks); and 6-, 12- and 24 months from baseline
Independent-Interdependent Problem solving scale (IIPSS)	The Independent-Interdependent Problem solving scale (IIPSS) is a 10-item scale that measures dispositional preferences for independent and interdependent problem-solving. Items are rated from (1) Strongly disagree to (7) Strongly agree. Total score ranges from 10-70. Higher scores indicate greater preference for either independent or interdependent problem-solving style.	Baseline (pre-intervention); end of intervention (up to 5 weeks); and 6-, 12- and 24 months from baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service
• Collaborators: Bond University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Chris Stapelberg, MD, Gold Coast Health and Bond University; Principal Investigator: Kathryn Turner, MD, Gold Coast Health; Principal Investigator: Sabine Woerwag-Mehta, MD, Gold Coast Health and Bond University; Principal Investigator: Sarah Walker, Psy.D, Gold Coast Health; Principal Investigator: Anthony Pisani, Ph.D, University of Rochester; Principal Investigator: Konrad Michel, MD, Bern University Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Fleischmann A, Bertolote JM, Wasserman D, De Leo D, Bolhari J, Botega NJ, De Silva D, Phillips M, Vijayakumar L, Varnik A, Schlebusch L, Thanh HT. Effectiveness of brief intervention and contact for suicide attempters: a randomized controlled trial in five countries. Bull World Health Organ. 2008 Sep;86(9):703-9. doi: 10.2471/blt.07.046995.
• Gysin-Maillart A, Schwab S, Soravia L, Megert M, Michel K. A Novel Brief Therapy for Patients Who Attempt Suicide: A 24-months Follow-Up Randomized Controlled Study of the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP). PLoS Med. 2016 Mar 1;13(3):e1001968. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001968. eCollection 2016 Mar.
• Witt KG, Hetrick SE, Rajaram G, Hazell P, Taylor Salisbury TL, Townsend E, Hawton K. Psychosocial interventions for self-harm in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Apr 22;4(4):CD013668. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013668.pub2.
• Pisani AR, Murrie DC, Silverman MM. Reformulating Suicide Risk Formulation: From Prediction to Prevention. Acad Psychiatry. 2016 Aug;40(4):623-9. doi: 10.1007/s40596-015-0434-6. Epub 2015 Dec 14.
• Stanley B, Chaudhury SR, Chesin M, Pontoski K, Bush AM, Knox KL, Brown GK. An Emergency Department Intervention and Follow-Up to Reduce Suicide Risk in the VA: Acceptability and Effectiveness. Psychiatr Serv. 2016 Jun 1;67(6):680-3. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201500082. Epub 2016 Feb 1.
• Bridge JA, Horowitz LM, Campo JV. ED-SAFE-Can Suicide Risk Screening and Brief Intervention Initiated in the Emergency Department Save Lives? JAMA Psychiatry. 2017 Jun 1;74(6):555-556. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0677. No abstract available.
• Hassanian-Moghaddam H, Sarjami S, Kolahi AA, Lewin T, Carter G. Postcards in Persia: A Twelve to Twenty-four Month Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial for Hospital-Treated Deliberate Self-Poisoning. Arch Suicide Res. 2017 Jan 2;21(1):138-154. doi: 10.1080/13811118.2015.1004473. Epub 2015 Mar 16.
• Gysin-Maillart AC, Soravia LM, Gemperli A, Michel K. Suicide Ideation Is Related to Therapeutic Alliance in a Brief Therapy for Attempted Suicide. Arch Suicide Res. 2017 Jan 2;21(1):113-126. doi: 10.1080/13811118.2016.1162242. Epub 2016 Mar 16.
• Michel K, Valach L, Gysin-Maillart A. A Novel Therapy for People Who Attempt Suicide and Why We Need New Models of Suicide. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Mar 1;14(3):243. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14030243.
• Mayer KH, Bradford JB, Makadon HJ, Stall R, Goldhammer H, Landers S. Sexual and gender minority health: what we know and what needs to be done. Am J Public Health. 2008 Jun;98(6):989-95. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.127811. Epub 2008 Apr 29.
• Sanchez JP, Hailpern S, Lowe C, Calderon Y. Factors associated with emergency department utilization by urban lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. J Community Health. 2007 Apr;32(2):149-56. doi: 10.1007/s10900-006-9037-1.
• De Leo D, Cerin E, Spathonis K, Burgis S. Lifetime risk of suicide ideation and attempts in an Australian community: prevalence, suicidal process, and help-seeking behaviour. J Affect Disord. 2005 Jun;86(2-3):215-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2005.02.001.
• Bennewith O, Evans J, Donovan J, Paramasivan S, Owen-Smith A, Hollingworth W, Davies R, O'Connor S, Hawton K, Kapur N, Gunnell D. A contact-based intervention for people recently discharged from inpatient psychiatric care: a pilot study. Arch Suicide Res. 2014;18(2):131-43. doi: 10.1080/13811118.2013.838196.
• Bickley H, Hunt IM, Windfuhr K, Shaw J, Appleby L, Kapur N. Suicide within two weeks of discharge from psychiatric inpatient care: a case-control study. Psychiatr Serv. 2013 Jul 1;64(7):653-9. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201200026.
• Zalsman G, Hawton K, Wasserman D, van Heeringen K, Arensman E, Sarchiapone M, Carli V, Hoschl C, Barzilay R, Balazs J, Purebl G, Kahn JP, Saiz PA, Lipsicas CB, Bobes J, Cozman D, Hegerl U, Zohar J. Suicide prevention strategies revisited: 10-year systematic review. Lancet Psychiatry. 2016 Jul;3(7):646-59. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30030-X. Epub 2016 Jun 8.
• Gould MS, Greenberg T, Velting DM, Shaffer D. Youth suicide risk and preventive interventions: a review of the past 10 years. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003 Apr;42(4):386-405. doi: 10.1097/01.CHI.0000046821.95464.CF.
• Bryan CJ, Wood DS, May A, Peterson AL, Wertenberger E, Rudd MD. Mechanisms of Action Contributing to Reductions in Suicide Attempts Following Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Military Personnel: A Test of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide. Arch Suicide Res. 2018 Apr-Jun;22(2):241-253. doi: 10.1080/13811118.2017.1319313. Epub 2017 Jun 1.
• Stanley B, Brown G, Brent DA, Wells K, Poling K, Curry J, Kennard BD, Wagner A, Cwik MF, Klomek AB, Goldstein T, Vitiello B, Barnett S, Daniel S, Hughes J. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for suicide prevention (CBT-SP): treatment model, feasibility, and acceptability. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009 Oct;48(10):1005-1013. doi: 10.1097/CHI.0b013e3181b5dbfe.
• Shea SC. The chronological assessment of suicide events: a practical interviewing strategy for the elicitation of suicidal ideation. J Clin Psychiatry. 1998;59 Suppl 20:58-72.
• Stapelberg NJC, Bowman C, Woerwag-Mehta S, Walker S, Davies A, Hughes I, Michel K, Pisani AR, Van Engelen H, Delos M, Hageman T, Fullerton-Smith K, Krishnaiah R, McDowell S, Cameron A, Scales TL, Dillon C, Gigante T, Heddle C, Mudge N, Zappa A, Edwards M, Gutjahr S, Joshi H, Turner K. A lived experience co-designed study protocol for a randomised control trial: the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) or Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as additional interventions after a suicide attempt compared to a standard Suicide Prevention Pathway (SPP). Trials. 2021 Oct 21;22(1):723. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05658-y.

Helpful Links

• Zero Suicide Strategy

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): October 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 31, 2021
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 8, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 27, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): August 28, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 28, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 27, 2019
• Last Verified: August 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Brief Intervention; Suicide Prevention; Suicide Attempt
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Self-Injurious Behavior; Suicide; Suicide, Attempted
• Other Study ID Numbers: APP1164644

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No