Development of a Mobile Heath Augmented Brief Suicide Prevention Intervention for People With SMI

This intervention development research project evaluates the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of a brief cognitive behavioral intervention, tailored to SMI, that is delivered during the gap period between urgent care evaluation and follow-up outpatient care. SafeTy and Recovery Therapy (START) is a 4-session cognitive behavioral intervention augmented by mobile technology, which delivers automated and personalized reinforcement of adaptive coping behavior outside of the clinic setting. START builds from collaborative development alongside a community psychiatric service organization, and our preliminary data in the SMI population that supports the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of brief, mobile augmented cognitive behavioral intervention.

In a 3-year developmental study, our deployment focused approach will first refine intervention procedures, safety and care continuity protocols, and fit with the deployment setting with a series of collaborative contacts with community providers, project staff, advisors, and patient advocates. We will next conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial with 70 patients diagnosed with either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia rapidly referred by community triage providers to receive START in the walk-in clinic setting. Patients are enrolled who have SMI diagnoses and current active suicidal ideation and/or a suicide attempt in the prior 3 months. Participants are randomized to one of two active conditions: START + Mobile augmentation or START alone. We will evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and enhancement of rates of outpatient treatment engagement and crisis service use in comparison to the sample population. We will also examine pragmatic mechanisms, which include outpatient treatment engagement and coping self-efficacy, on change in suicidal ideation severity and crisis service use along with the preliminary impact of mobile augmentation.

All subjects are recruited from San Diego area "walk-in" behavioral health evaluation services and must be referred by a triage clinician at such facilities. The study is unable to accept referrals from other sources. In addition, the following criteria apply:

Inclusion criteria

• Subjects must have present suicidal ideation CSSR-S> 2 ("Active thoughts of killing oneself") in past 1 month and/or a suicide attempt in the prior 3 months as identified by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
• Diagnosis of DSM-V bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder as identified by the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview
• Plans to remain in San Diego region for at least 6 months,
• Capable of informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Not English speaking
• Cannot complete the assessment battery;
• Insufficient visual acuity/manual dexterity for navigating a touch screen;
• Current intoxication or substance use requiring immediate detoxification or outpatient plan directed at substance abuse services (versus mental health services which are separate in San Diego county);
• Under conservatorship requiring proxy consent.