A Randomized Trial for Suicidal Patients

Vestre Viken Hospital Trust80 enrolled

Overview

Although suicide risk is highly prevalent among the patient population in mental health care, remarkably little research exists on effective treatments. Among a small set of novel approaches, CAMS is particularly promising. The investigators compare CAMS to TAU in a randomized controlled trial at four departments in Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, hypothesizing CAMS to be the superior approach. Primary outcome measures are suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, with secondary outcome measures including general symptoms of mental health problems. Changes in the outcome measures are compared between the two groups from baseline to 6 and 12 months after patients are included in the study. The study has the potential to impact the science of treating suicidal individuals and it could benefit the general public by establishing CAMS as an effective clinical approach for rapidly reducing suicide risk.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Suicidal Ideation Attempted Suicide Suicide

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Months

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Significant suicide ideation on Beck's Scale for Suicide Ideation (score 13 and above). Informed consent to participate. Exclusion Criteria: * Active psychosis, cognitive or physical impairment or other problems that preclude the ability to understand the study procedures and provide informed consent, non-Norwegian speaking subjects

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Changes in scores on Beck's Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI)

Interview scale with 19 items that measures a patient's suicidal ideation at its worst point in the past 2 weeks.

Time frame: From baseline to 6 and 12 months after patient is included in the study

Secondary Outcomes

Changes in scores on The Outcome Questionaire 45 (OQ-45)

A 45-item questionnaire designed to measure key areas of mental health functioning (symptoms, interpersonal problems and social role functioning)

Time frame: From baseline to 6 and 12 months after patient is included in the study

Norwegian Patient Registry (NPR) data

Data entered in the NPR on self harm, suicide attempts, new hospital admissions to health treatments, discharge diagnosis, intoxication, and death by any causes.

Time frame: Yearly for five years after study inclusion

Changes in scores on Suicide Attempt Self-Injury Count (SASI-C)

An interview covering past self-inflicted injuries and categorizing them into suicide attempts and non-suicidal acts. The tool also creates counts of self-inflicted injuries by method, medical risk severity and lethality

Time frame: changes from baseline to 6 and 12 months after patient is included in the study