RecruitingNot Applicable

Impact of a High-resolution Program for the Prevention of Suicidal Behavior in At-risk Adults: a Quasi-experimental Ambispective Cohort Study

Spain198 participantsStarted 2025-05-01

Plain-language summary

Background: Suicidal behavior represents a major public health problem worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 720.000 people die by suicide annually, and many more attempt it. Suicide is a personal tragedy associated with extreme suffering that has a serious impact on the deceased's immediate circle and on society as a whole. In this context, there is an urgent need to design effective and humane intervention strategies that offer an evidence-based, preventive, specialized, and community-oriented response to suicidal behavior. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary, specialized, and high-resolution program for the prevention of suicidal behavior in adults aged 18 and over in the Salamanca Health Area. Methods: A quasi-experimental, ambispective cohort study with two parallel groups: an intervention group, receiving the specific suicide prevention program (SPP) with a pre-test/post-test design, and a control group, receiving usual care (TC). Adult patients (≥ 18 years) will be referred from the Emergency Department of the University Hospital of Salamanca after an initial psychiatric evaluation. Patients will be assigned to the intervention group according to established inclusion criteria. The program lasts 3 months, during which each participant will receive intensive and individualized follow-up from a multidisciplinary team composed of two psychiatrists, two mental health nurses, two psychologists, and two social workers at two community mental health centers. Participants will also attend 10 weekly group therapy sessions. Follow-up evaluations will be conducted at the end of the program (three months) and six months after the first contact. Discussion: This study will contribute to the scientific evidence base on the effectiveness of intensive and specific suicide prevention programs in the community setting, optimizing healthcare resources, improving treatment adherence, and aligning with the Spanish National Suicide Prevention Plan 2025-2027. Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Salamanca Health Area (CEIm code: PI 2025 11 2102 - TD) Keywords: Suicidal behavior; Suicide prevention; Suicidal ideation; Community mental health services; Quasi-experimental study; Cohort study; Psychiatric emergency services; Patient care team.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients ≥ 18 years of age. * No prior active follow-up by the mental health team. * Prior stabilization by the emergency psychiatry team. * Columbia Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) score corresponding to moderate-to-high risk. * Absence of criteria for urgent hospital admission. * Signed informed consent. Exclusión Criteria: * Self-harm without suicidal intent. * Mild suicide risk (mild C-SSRS). * Extremely high suicide risk requiring urgent hospital admission. * Patient under active follow-up at another mental health unit.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Recurrence of Clinically Significant Suicidal Behavior

Timeframe: 3 months (end of program) and 12 months from first contact.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07655986

SponsorUniversity of Salamanca

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-05-01

Contact for this trial

Lourdes Ollero Malagón, Mental health nurse specialist

+34682539709 lollero@saludcastillayleon.es

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Prevention of Suicidal Behavior trials