# Randomized controlled trial of a single-session mechanism-focused intervention for suicidal thoughts and behaviors

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · 2024 · $48,974

## Abstract

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide. The number of people who experience
suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) is even larger. Although effective for treating suicidal behaviors,
traditional outpatient treatments for suicidality are time intensive. Given that the average number of
sessions attended by an individual is five, suicidal individuals are unlikely to receive an adequate dose of
these treatments. Additionally, there are too few mental health clinicians, and many providers are unwilling
to treat suicidal individuals. To address accessibility barriers, a number of brief suicide-specific
interventions have been developed. Brief interventions, including single sessions, reduce future suicidal
behavior and increase the likelihood of attending outpatient appointments. Extant treatments (both brief
and traditional) appear to have a limited impact on suicidal ideation. However, suicidal ideation as an
“upstream” target may have an impact on suicide attempts and deaths “downstream.” In line with NIMH’s
RDoC initiative, focusing on the core mechanisms that give rise to suicidal ideation may represent a more
potent and parsimonious approach to care. ‘Ideation-to-action’ theories outline specific mechanisms that
contribute to the onset and maintenance of STBs. These mechanistic theories point to a limited number of
potentially malleable processes (i.e., hopelessness, perceptions of social relatedness) that can become
the focus of intervention, yet this empirical literature has not been incorporated into treatment
development. The proposed study will compare a novel, mechanism-focused, Single Session Intervention
for STBs (SSI-STB) to treatment as usual (TAU) on an inpatient psychiatric unit. We aim to test whether
targeting the putative processes (hopelessness and negative perceptions of social relatedness) that
maintain STBs indeed engages those mechanisms and, consequently, prevents future STBs. The
applicant will also examine whether patients who receive the SSI-STB are more likely to attend their
follow-up mental health appointment relative to TAU. Participants admitted for suicidal ideation and/or
suicide attempt to the inpatient psychiatric unit will be randomized to the SSI-STB or TAU conditions,
receive the intervention that corresponds to their assigned condition, and will complete a post-intervention
self-report assessment directly after the intervention, and follow-up assessments at one week and one
month after discharge. Results will help us address the critical need of integrating established mechanisms
that maintain suicidality into a disseminable intervention for STBs. Moreover, this application describes an
excellent research environment for the proposed work, supported by a collaborative mentorship team with
relevant expertise. The applicant will learn new skills in mechanism-focused treatment development. This
clinical trial research experience will be invaluable toward the applicant’s goal of becoming an...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10998020
- **Project number:** 1F31MH135623-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
- **Principal Investigator:** Martina Fruhbauerova
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $48,974
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-28 → 2026-07-27

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10998020

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10998020, Randomized controlled trial of a single-session mechanism-focused intervention for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (1F31MH135623-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10998020. Licensed CC0.

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