A Comparison of Two Brief Suicide Prevention Interventions Tailored for Youth on the Autism Spectrum

Summary

Rates of suicide have increased significantly over the past two decades, particularly among youth. Compared to the general population, autistic people are significantly more likely to think about suicide, attempt suicide, and die by suicide. Autistic individuals have identified suicide prevention as a top research priority; however, little is known about how to best help autistic youth at risk for suicide. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of two suicide prevention strategies tailored for autistic individuals: the Safety Planning Intervention tailored for Autistic individuals (SPI-A) and SPI-A plus structured follow-up contacts (SPI-A+).

Conditions

• Suicidal Ideation
• Suicidal and Self-injurious Behavior
• Suicide
• Autism Spectrum Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Safety Planning Intervention tailored for Autistic Individuals

To develop the SPI-A, clinicians work collaboratively with patients, and when indicated, their family members, to create a list of concrete coping mechanisms to be enacted leading up to or during a crisis. This list can be depicted in writing or pictorially, depending on patient preference. As part of the intervention, patients (and family members, when appropriate) also identify warning signs that signal the need to use the safety plan, as well as a detailed plan for reducing access to lethal means. SPI-A is a stand-alone intervention without a follow-up component.

BEHAVIORAL

Safety Planning Intervention Tailored for Autistic Individuals Plus Structured Follow-Up Contacts

SPI-A+ includes SPI-A plus a structured follow-up component. The structured follow-up component of SPI-A+ includes three elements: 1. A brief risk assessment and mood check 2. Review and, if needed, revision of SPI-A 3. Support related to outpatient mental health treatment initiation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Pennsylvania

  collaborator OTHER

• Nationwide Children's Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.

  collaborator OTHER

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  collaborator OTHER

• Seattle Children's Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Danielle Roubinov, PhD · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

• Shari Jager-Hyman, PhD · University of Pennsylvania

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

99 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-08-23

Primary Completion

2027-11-30

Completion

2027-11-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations