Investigating social reward therapy for reducing suicidality in older adults
Official title: Target Engagement During Social Reward Psychotherapy for Mid- and Late-Life Suicidality: A Precision Imaging Trial
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11078339 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how feeling socially disconnected can lead to thoughts of suicide in adults aged 50-80 with depression, and it will test a new online therapy called Engage & Connect that helps people get more involved in enjoyable social activities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 21, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $590,466 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH133953-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11078339 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 50-80 who are experiencing major depressive disorder and have suicidal ideation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the age range of 50-80 or those without major depressive disorder or suicidal thoughts may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how social disconnection contributes to suicidality in mid- and late-life adults. It involves a novel psychotherapy called Engage & Connect, which is delivered remotely and aims to enhance engagement in rewarding social activities. The study will include 128 participants aged 50-80 with major depressive disorder and suicidal thoughts, who will be randomly assigned to either the therapy or an active control group. Researchers will assess brain functions and behavioral changes related to social rewards to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new therapeutic approach to reduce suicidality and improve mental health outcomes in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using social engagement therapies to improve mental health outcomes, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Solomonov, Nili — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Solomonov, Nili
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.