Suicide risk interventions: comparing how much therapy and brain markers predict outcomes
Official title: Suicide risk interventions: A comparison of treatment dose and neural markers of treatment outcome
Funded at VA Boston Health Care System · NIH-11249150 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in veterans and active-duty service members compares how different amounts of therapy, plus brain-activity clues, affect future suicide risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Boston Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01CX002583-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11249150 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are active-duty service members or veterans at elevated suicide risk who may be considered for either a single-session or multi-session psychosocial intervention.
✕Less likely to help
Some individuals with complex clinical presentations may require specialized or additional treatments not tested in this study.
What this research studies
This NIH grant aims to see whether shorter or longer psychosocial interventions work better for people at risk of suicide after military discharge, using brain markers to predict who benefits most. Researchers will compare a single-session approach like Enhanced Crisis Response Plans to multi-session programs such as Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for suicide prevention, while tracking outcomes over time. The study plans to collect brain and behavioral data to understand how treatment dose relates to improvements in safety and functioning. Results could help tailor care so individuals receive the right level of support without unnecessary resource use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide personalized care plans that optimize safety and resource use for veterans and active-duty personnel at risk of suicide.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies show that both short and longer psychosocial interventions can reduce risk, but direct comparisons by dose are lacking.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Boston Health Care System
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Esterman, Michael — VA Boston Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Esterman, Michael
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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.