Brief psychological intervention for suicide prevention based on problem-solving applied in different formats to people over 50 years old: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Suicide is a major public health problem, especially among individuals over 50 years old. Despite the suitability of this life stage for prevention, research on the efficacy of psychological interventions is scarce and methodologically limited, affecting their clinical utility and efficacy. Brief, f...

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Published in:	BMC psychiatry Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 628 - 15
Main Authors:	Vázquez, Fernando L, Torres, Ángela J, Blanco, Vanessa, Bouza, Queila, Otero, Patricia, Andrade, Elena, Simón, Miguel Á, Bueno, Ana M, Arrojo, Manuel, Páramo, Mario, Fernández, Alba
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England BioMed Central Ltd 27-09-2024 BioMed Central BMC
Subjects:	Age groups Aged Clinical trials Cognitive ability Female Health aspects Humans Impulsive behavior Intervention Male Mental depression Middle Aged Middle aged persons Mobile Applications Older people Over 50 years old Prevention Problem Solving Protocol Psychological aspects Psychosocial Intervention - methods Psychotherapy, Brief - methods Public health Smartphones Social interactions Sociodemographics Suicidal behavior Suicidal Ideation Suicide Suicide Prevention Suicides & suicide attempts Spain Prevention Over 50 years old Problem-solving Protocol Suicidal ideation Suicide
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Summary:	Suicide is a major public health problem, especially among individuals over 50 years old. Despite the suitability of this life stage for prevention, research on the efficacy of psychological interventions is scarce and methodologically limited, affecting their clinical utility and efficacy. Brief, flexible interventions that can be applied both in-person and remotely are needed. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a brief problem-solving-based suicide prevention program applied through various modalities to individuals over 50 years old. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted. A sample of 212 adults aged 50 or older with suicidal ideation will be randomly assigned to a problem-solving-based psychological intervention administered face-to-face (PSPI-P; n = 53), by telephone multiconference (PSPI-M; n = 53), via a smartphone app (PSPI-A; n = 53), or to a usual care control group (UCCG; n = 53). The intervention will be delivered in 7 sessions or modules of 90 min each. Blind trained evaluators will conduct assessments at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-ups at 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome will be suicidal ideation evaluated using the Suicidal Ideation Scale (SSI) and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Secondary outcomes will include hopelessness, anxiety and depression symptoms, reasons for living, impulsivity, problem-solving skills, social support, anger syndrome, gratitude, personality, dropouts, treatment adherence, and satisfaction with the intervention. This study will provide evidence of the efficacy of a brief problem-solving-based intervention for suicide prevention in individuals over 50 years old, administered face-to-face, by telephone multiconference, and via a smartphone app. If results are favorable, it will indicate that an effective, accessible, clinically and socially useful suicide prevention intervention has been developed for affected individuals, families, and communities. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06338904. Registered April 1, 2024.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 ObjectType-Undefined-3
ISSN:	1471-244X 1471-244X
DOI:	10.1186/s12888-024-06076-5