Youth Suicide Prevention: CAMS-BI vs. Safety Planning in a Randomized Trial

Summary

This study outlines a randomized controlled trial evaluating two brief suicide-specific interventions for adolescents aged 12-17 who are hospitalized for suicidal ideation or attempts. Suicide remains a leading cause of death among youth, and many adolescents are discharged from inpatient care without targeted, suicide-focused treatment, contributing to high rates of readmission and ongoing risk. This study seeks to address that gap by comparing the effectiveness of the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality-Brief Intervention (CAMS-BI) with the Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention (SPI), both delivered as single-session interventions during inpatient hospitalization.

Participants (N=118) will be randomly assigned to receive either CAMS-BI or SPI. CAMS-BI is a therapeutic, collaborative framework that focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying psychological drivers of suicidality, while SPI is a structured, practical approach that emphasizes immediate safety through coping strategies, support systems, and means restriction. Following the intervention, participants will be monitored for 90 days post-discharge, with follow-ups at 30, 60, and 90 days.

The primary outcome is the rate of psychiatric readmissions and suicide-related emergency department visits within 90 days of discharge. Secondary outcomes include changes in suicidal ideation, measured by the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, and caregiver confidence in managing their child's safety. Additional measures include distress levels, hopelessness, treatment satisfaction, and engagement.

The study hypothesizes that CAMS-BI will result in lower readmission rates, greater reductions in suicidal ideation, and improved caregiver confidence compared to SPI. Both interventions produce individualized safety or stabilization plans that are shared with patients and caregivers and incorporated into discharge planning to support continuity of care.

Safety protocols are emphasized throughout the study, given the high-risk population. Participants receive standard clinical care, crisis resources, and close monitoring, with procedures in place to address any escalation in suicide risk. Data will be collected using secure systems, and confidentiality will be maintained through de-identification and controlled access.

Overall, this study aims to determine whether a rapid, inpatient, suicide-focused intervention can improve short-term outcomes for high-risk youth and reduce the likelihood of rehospitalization, ultimately informing scalable approaches to suicide prevention in clinical settings.

Conditions

• Suicidal Ideation
• Suicide Attempt
• Safety Plan
• Depression / Major Depressive Disorder
• Hopelessness

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

CAMS Brief Intervention

CAMS-BI is a brief, structured, suicide-focused psychotherapy delivered during inpatient hospitalization that uses the Suicide Status Form to collaboratively identify and directly target the patient's specific psychological drivers of suicidality (e.g., hopelessness, psychological pain, agitation, and self-hate). It emphasizes a strong therapeutic alliance and shared formulation to reduce suicidal risk and support linkage to ongoing care after discharge.

BEHAVIORAL

Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention

The Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention (SPI) is a brief, structured, collaborative session in which the adolescent and clinician create a personalized written safety plan to use during future suicidal crises. The plan outlines warning signs, internal coping strategies, social supports, professional resources, and steps for restricting access to lethal means to help reduce immediate risk.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Cleveland Clinic

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Tatiana Falcone, M.D. · The Cleveland Clinic

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-08-01

Primary Completion

2027-01-01

Completion

2027-03-01

Countries

• United States

Study Locations