Better suicide prevention for teens in pediatric primary care
Optimizing Suicide Prevention Strategies for Pediatric Primary Care
This pilot will try a digital safety-planning and skills app (iCHART-cASAP + BRITE) delivered through pediatricians to help 12–17-year-olds with depression or recent suicidal thoughts stay safer and learn coping skills.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 12 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Pittsburgh Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Itasca, Illinois) |
| Trial ID | NCT06194331 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This stepped-wedge cluster randomized pilot will adapt and test iCHART-cASAP for delivery in pediatric primary care practices that lack onsite behavioral health providers. Four PROS practices (urban, suburban, rural) and up to 20 providers will participate, with a 3-month baseline followed by staggered 3-month rollouts so each practice crosses from usual care to the intervention. A total of 60 youth (15 per practice) will be enrolled across 15 months, with approximately 30 receiving usual care and 30 receiving the digital intervention plus BRITE app onboarding after being identified as at-risk on the PHQ-9-M. Outcomes will include preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of implementing a low-cost, scalable safety-planning and skills training program in routine pediatric visits.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking adolescents aged 12–17 with parental consent, a PHQ-9M indicating moderate/severe depression or recent suicidal ideation or a past attempt, and access to a smartphone or device.
Not a fit: Patients who are non-English-speaking, lack a smartphone, have intellectual disability or pervasive developmental disorders that impair comprehension, or who require immediate specialty or inpatient care may not benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could give pediatricians a low-cost, scalable way to reduce suicide risk among at-risk adolescents by making safety planning and coping skills widely available in primary care.
How similar studies have performed: Other safety-planning and app-based interventions for suicidal youth have shown promise in reducing risk, but adapting iCHART-cASAP specifically for delivery by pediatric primary care teams is a relatively new approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Youth Inclusion: * 12-17 years old * Parent/legal guardian consents for youth to be in study * English fluency and literacy-own a smart phone or device * PHQ-9M score indicating moderate or severe depression or suicidal ideation in past month, past 2 weeks, or an attempt in their lifetime Caregiver/Parent inclusion: -English fluency and literacy Youth Exclusion: * evidence of intellectual delay * pervasive developmental disorder * other condition from medical history that would prohibit comprehension of questions or modules
Where this trial is running
Itasca, Illinois
- Pediatric Research in Office Settings National Headquarters — Itasca, Illinois, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Stephanie Stepp — University of Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Brandie George-Milford
- Email: georgeba2@upmc.edu
- Phone: 724-840-2055
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.