Stepped-care program for children and teens with suicidal thoughts or behaviors
Examining the Efficacy of a Stratified-Stepped-Care Model for Brief Interpersonal Couseling (IPC) in Youth With Imminent Suicidal Risk: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial.
NA · University of Haifa · NCT07321171
This study will test whether a stepped-care approach—using low-intensity counseling by trained non-specialists for milder cases and professional therapy for more severe cases—reduces suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and adolescents compared with usual clinic care.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 350 (estimated) |
| Ages | 6 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Haifa (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Petah Tikva) |
| Trial ID | NCT07321171 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will enroll children and adolescents (ages 6–18) presenting with suicidal thoughts or behaviors at Schneider Children's Medical Center and randomly assign them to a stratified stepped-care (SSC) program or Care as Usual (CAU). The SSC model uses trained non-specialist providers to deliver a manualized low-intensity intervention (IPC-A-SCI) for mild cases and routes more severe cases to professional-delivered interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT-A-SCI), with ongoing supervision. Participants will complete assessments at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months to measure suicidal thoughts and behaviors, broader mental health symptoms, access to care, and economic outcomes. The CAU arm follows standard clinic procedures including waitlist brief therapy and routine follow-up.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Children and adolescents aged 6–18 who are currently experiencing suicidal thoughts, gestures, behaviors, or a recent suicide attempt and who can provide consent/parental permission and participate in Hebrew-language treatment are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with acute medical conditions, current psychotic disorders, diagnosed intellectual disability or unmanaged severe neurodevelopmental disorders, inability to consent, or who cannot participate in Hebrew-language care are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth while expanding faster and more affordable access to timely mental health care.
How similar studies have performed: Interpersonal therapies and stepped-care/task-shifting approaches have shown promise in some populations and settings, but randomized evidence specifically testing a stratified stepped-care model for suicidal youth is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must be between 6 and 18 years old, inclusive. * Participants currently exhibit various forms of STB, including suicidal thoughts, gestures, behaviors, or attempted suicide. Exclusion Criteria: * Acute medical conditions. * Current psychotic disorders. * Non-fluency in Hebrew (language of intervention and assessment). * Diagnosed intellectual disability. * Diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders (other than those that commonly co-occur with STB and are deemed manageable by the study team). * Inability to provide informed consent (participant) or parental permission (parent/guardian).
Where this trial is running
Petah Tikva
- Shneider children's Medical Center — Petah Tikva, Israel (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Shira Barzilay, Principal Investigator, Phd
- Email: bshira@haifa.ac.il
- Phone: 972-54-5309759
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.
Conditions: Suicidal Ideation and Behavior, suicide prevention, youth, adolescent, inter personal counseling, stepped care, Suicide thoughts, paraprofessional