Adaptation of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills-Groups for Individuals With Suicidal Ideation and Depression

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Suicidal Ideation, Major Depressive Disorder

In brief

Harley and colleagues demonstrated that adding Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills-groups and therapist consultation to treatment as usual successfully reduced symptoms of depression. The present study will expand upon these findings. Second, DBT is not known for reducing suicidal ideation (SI), a major risk factor for suicide . The present study will tailor the aforementioned skills-groups to specifically target suicidal thoughts and behaviors through Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) strategies aimed at increasing problem-solving deficits, hopelessness, and negativistic thinking. Third, the present study will extend this DBT-based approach to a novel population. Fourth, the present study is the first DBT intervention to employ state-of-the-art multi-method measurement (including objective assessment) of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The investigators hypothesize that participants in the DBT skills (DBT-S) group will show improvements in level of suicidality as measured by decreased scores on the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation as compared with participants in the Wait List-Treatment as Usual (WL-TAU) group.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01441258

Run by

Maurizio Fava, MD

People needed

26

Starts

2011-10-01

Expected to finish

2015-02-01

Last updated by the study team

2015-04-08

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Participants will be at least 18 years of age.
• Participants will meet criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) on the Structured Clinical Interviews for Axis I DSM-IV Disorders
• Participants must report current suicidal ideation on the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview
• Participants must have an outpatient psychiatric provider who they see "regularly" (i.e., at least every other week for therapy, case management, or medication management).
• English language proficiency.

You may not qualify if…

• DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychotic disorder NOS, or personality disorders.
• Active current substance dependence.
• Severe or unstable medical conditions that would prohibit regular group attendance or participation.
• Other group therapy.
• Significant dementia or cognitive impairment that would interfere with the learning of DBT skills.

Where it is running

• Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.