Integrated suicide and trauma therapy for adults with childhood trauma and suicidal thoughts
Official title: Using Integrated Suicide and Trauma Therapy to Reduce Suicide Risk Among Adults With a History of Childhood Trauma
Run by Unity Health Toronto · NCT05613972 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This pilot will test a 12-week program that combines brief safety and coping skills with trauma-focused therapy to reduce suicide risk in adults who have a history of childhood trauma and current suicidal thoughts.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Unity Health Toronto Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Toronto, Ontario) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 8, 2025 |
| Main results expected | April 2027 |
| Study ends | July 2027 |
| Registry record updated | August 17, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05613972 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults with current suicidal ideation (Beck SSI >10), a history of childhood trauma (moderate or higher on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), capacity to consent, English fluency, and not currently receiving other psychotherapy.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with active psychosis, significant cognitive impairment that prevents informed consent, non-English speakers, or those already engaged in psychotherapy are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Investigators developed Integrated Suicide and Trauma Therapy (ISTT), a 12-week intervention that pairs Brief-Skills for Safer Living (Brief-SfSL) with a trauma therapy component to target both immediate suicide-related coping and long-term effects of childhood trauma. The pilot will enroll adults with current suicidal ideation (Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation >10) and at least a moderate score on a Childhood Trauma Questionnaire subscale. Participants will receive weekly psychotherapy sessions at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto and are excluded if they have active psychosis, cognitive impairment limiting consent, or are receiving other psychotherapy. Outcomes will focus on changes in suicide risk and trauma-related symptoms over the treatment period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, ISTT could reduce suicidal thoughts and improve coping by addressing both immediate safety skills and the long-term effects of childhood trauma.
How similar studies have gone: The constituent approaches—Brief-SfSL for coping and established trauma-focused therapies—have shown promise individually, but the integrated ISTT approach is novel and is being piloted.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation \> 10 * Presence of childhood trauma defined by a minimum moderate score on any of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire subscales (emotional abuse, physical, abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect * any psychiatric diagnosis as long as there are no impairments that limit consent or understanding of ISTT (e.g. active psychosis) * Ability to provide informed consent * Not receiving other psychotherapy concurrently * Ability to undergo psychotherapy in English Exclusion Criteria: * The presence of cognitive impairment and/or active psychosis that would limit consent or understanding of ISTT * Unwilling or unable to provide informed consent
Where it's running
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St. Michael's Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sakina Rizvi, PhD,MACP,RP — Unity Health Toronto
- Study coordinator: Sakina Rizvi, PhD,MACP,RP
- Email: rizvisa@smh.ca
- Phone: 416-864-6060
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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.