Short therapy to reduce self-injury and help Veterans function better
A Brief Intervention to Reduce Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Improve Functioning in Veterans
A nine-session, Veteran-adapted therapy uses real-time phone-based tracking to help people stop non-suicidal self-injury and improve daily functioning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Durham VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11222674 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project adapts T-SIB, a nine-session individualized treatment, specifically for Veterans and adds ecological momentary assessment (EMA) via smartphone to track urges and behaviors as they happen. You would work with a therapist to identify triggers, track what leads to self-injury in daily life, and learn alternative behaviors that support social and work functioning. The EMA data will be used to tailor treatment and measure changes in self-injury and functioning over time. Eligible Veterans may be invited to attend therapy sessions and complete follow-ups while using the phone-based tracking tool.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Veterans with a history of non-suicidal self-injury who can attend brief therapy sessions and use a smartphone for real-time tracking are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without a history of NSSI, those currently at imminent risk of suicide who need higher-intensity care, or those unable/unwilling to use smartphone tracking may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help Veterans reduce self-injury, improve psychosocial functioning, and lower risk factors linked to future suicide attempts.
How similar studies have performed: T-SIB has shown promise in prior work, but treatments for NSSI are limited and combining T-SIB with real-time EMA is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Durham VA Medical Center — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Halverson, Tate F — Durham VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Halverson, Tate F
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 below.