Practice Experiences for School Reintegration

Summary

This study is developing and refining a novel Virtual Reality (VR) supplement for inpatient treatment: the Practice Experiences for School Reintegration (PrESR) program. The PrESR will provide immersive school experiences for inpatient adolescents (with suicidal-related admissions) to practice skills in real-world settings with the guidance of a trained clinician within the confines of a hospital. This pilot study follows a Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to conduct a pilot optimization trial of the PrESR to inform the feasibility of training clinicians, the ability to recruit adolescent inpatient participants, and management of experimental conditions. This study is not powered to test hypotheses; however, in addition to assessing feasibility and acceptability, this pilot trial will assess candidate intermediary and outcome measures.

Conditions

• Suicide

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Safety Planning

Prior to discharge and following the conclusion of all Virtual Reality (VR) sessions, the participant will develop a safety planning intervention for school settings in collaboration with relevant individuals (e.g., the researcher, a school professional).

BEHAVIORAL

VR Enhanced Affect Regulation

Participants will receive an overview of affect regulation in VR and then have the opportunity to practice using affect regulation in a brief immersive experience designed to mimic difficult school experiences. Each session begins with goal setting prior to the VR experience and concludes with a debrief summary following the VR experience.

BEHAVIORAL

VR Enhanced Cognitive Restructuring

Participants will receive an overview of cognitive restructuring in VR and then have the opportunity to practice using cognitive restructuring in a brief immersive experience designed to mimic difficult school experiences. Each session begins with goal setting prior to the VR experience and concludes with a debrief summary following the VR experience.

BEHAVIORAL

VR Enhanced Problem Solving

Participants will receive an overview of problem solving in VR and then have the opportunity to practice using problem solving in a brief immersive experience designed to mimic difficult school experiences. Each session begins with goal setting prior to the VR experience and concludes with a debrief summary following the VR experience.

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Worksheets

The researchers will provide instructions for participants to complete a packet of worksheets teaching introduction to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), affect regulation, cognitive restructuring, and problem solving.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  collaborator NIH

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Marisa Marraccini, PhD · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

13 Years

Max Age

99 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-08-01

Primary Completion

2024-12-20

Completion

2024-12-20

Countries

• United States

Study Locations