Intensive Crisis Intervention for teens with suicidal thoughts or behaviors
Official title: Intensive Crisis Intervention (ICI) for Adolescent Suicidal Behavior
Run by Nationwide Children's Hospital · NCT06476886 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try a brief, family-focused Intensive Crisis Intervention to see if it helps 12–17-year-olds with suicidal thoughts or recent attempts reduce suicidal behavior and avoid inpatient psychiatric care.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 12 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 213 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Nationwide Children's Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Columbus, Ohio) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 3, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 21, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06476886 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adolescents aged 12 years 0 months to 17 years 6 months presenting with suicidal ideation or behavior who are clinically eligible for both the YCSU and APIU, score ≥23 on the CHRT-SR, and have a legal guardian able to consent are the intended participants.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are actively psychotic, unable to understand study procedures (for example due to significant intellectual disability), unable to read or speak English sufficiently, or not eligible for admission to both care settings are unlikely to benefit from this intervention as tested.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This project refines and pilots Intensive Crisis Intervention (ICI), a brief treatment that blends family therapy/parent training, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing to target family functioning and reduce adolescent suicidal behavior. In Year 1 the team will develop a treatment manual, training and supervision protocols, and data collection procedures, then pilot ICI with about 20 adolescents, 20 parents, and 16 providers. After refinement, 60 youths aged 12–17 presenting with suicidal ideation or behavior and eligible for both the Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit (YCSU) and an adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit (APIU) will be randomized 1:1 to receive ICI in the YCSU (n=30) or standard inpatient care in the APIU (n=30). A mixed-methods approach will examine feasibility, acceptability, implementation processes, and preliminary clinical and service-use outcomes at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, ICI could offer a shorter, family-centered alternative that reduces inpatient admissions and improves family functioning and suicidal outcomes for adolescents.
How similar studies have gone: Components of ICI such as family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing have shown promise for adolescent suicidality, but the combined brief ICI package and its implementation in a crisis stabilization unit is novel and not yet fully tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Youth between the ages of 12 years 0 months and 17 years 6 months at time of consent 2. Present to the Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH) Psychiatric Crisis Department (PCD) or NCH Psychiatry Consult Liaison (CL) Service with suicidal ideation and/or behavior as the primary referral 3. Be eligible for admission to both YCSU and APIU based on PCD or CL clinician's clinical judgement 4. Patient and legal guardian must be willing to be admitted to either YCSU or APIU 5. Youth obtains a score of ≥23 on the Concise Health Risk Tracking Self-Report (CHRT-SR) 6. Youth resides with a primary caretaker who has legal authority to consent for participation in research 7. Legal guardian must attend the PCD or CL evaluation Exclusion Criteria: 1. Participants who are unable to understand study procedures (e.g., intellectual disability, actively psychotic) 2. Inability to speak or read English adequately to understand and complete study consent and procedures YCSU clinicians, PCD staff, and NCH-BH leaders will be invited to participate based on their roles in the system-of-care.
Where it's running
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Nationwide Children's Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jennifer L Hughes — Nationwide Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Jennifer L Hughes
- Email: jennifer.hughes@nationwidechildrens.org
- Phone: 614-722-6811
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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.