Caregiver questionnaire to detect suicide risk in 4–7 year olds at a behavioral health clinic
Official title: Implementation of a Caregiver-Report Suicide-Risk Screener in Children Under Age 8 in a Behavioral Health Center: A Pilot Study
Run by Washington University School of Medicine · NCT07350161 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try a caregiver-filled questionnaire to see if it helps find suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children ages 4 to 7 who are seen at a behavioral health clinic.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 12 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Washington University School of Medicine Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (St Louis, Missouri) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 26, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 2026 |
| Study ends | September 30, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | January 20, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07350161 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Licensed mental health clinicians at the Hermann Center who provide care to children ages 4–7 through the Early Child Intervention, Early Psychiatric Care, or Trauma Response programs and are currently seeing or accepting new patients are the intended participants.
✕Probably not a fit
Clinicians who do not treat children ages 4–7, those outside the Hermann Center, or practices that cannot collect caregiver reports are unlikely to benefit directly from this implementation project.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The project implements a caregiver-report suicide-risk screener for children ages 4–7 within a child behavioral health clinic and measures how it works in real-world practice. Investigators will collect quantitative data on the screener's sensitivity and specificity and gather qualitative feedback from clinicians and caregivers about acceptability and workflow fit. The study will track how clinicians use screener results in diagnosis and treatment planning and will refine the tool and implementation steps based on feedback. Findings will inform best practices and barriers for early identification of suicide risk in young children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this screener could enable earlier identification of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in very young children, allowing for timelier clinical evaluation and intervention.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data for this specific caregiver-report screener show promise for sensitivity and specificity, but caregiver-based suicide screening in this young age group remains relatively novel and not widely validated.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * licensed mental health clinician (e.g., LPC, LMSW, LCSW, MD) in the Hermann Center * provides care to children 4-7 years of age * provides care through the Early Child Intervention, Early Psychiatric Care, or Trauma Response program * must be currently seeing and/or accepting new patients Exclusion Criteria: * none
Where it's running
-
Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, United States Recruiting
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.