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Attempted suicide short intervention program for older adults 65+ (ASSIP-OA) : a study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial

Hed, Sara ; Berg, Anne Ingeborg ; Tillfors, Maria ; Ehnvall, Anna ; Westrin, Åsa LU ; Wiktorsson, Stefan ; Gysin-Maillart, Anja LU and Waern, Margda (2025) In BMC Psychiatry 25(1).
Abstract

Background: Older adults are underrepresented in suicide prevention research, even though suicide rates are higher in this age group (65+) than in any other age group in many countries worldwide. There are few clinical intervention studies that target this age group. A promising preventive intervention is the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP). Given differences in suicidal behaviour between older and younger adults, there is a need for suicide prevention intervention models that are adaptable to the heterogenic needs of older adults. This study protocol outlines the design of our upcoming study, which aims to evaluate a modified version of the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) specifically adapted... (More)

Background: Older adults are underrepresented in suicide prevention research, even though suicide rates are higher in this age group (65+) than in any other age group in many countries worldwide. There are few clinical intervention studies that target this age group. A promising preventive intervention is the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP). Given differences in suicidal behaviour between older and younger adults, there is a need for suicide prevention intervention models that are adaptable to the heterogenic needs of older adults. This study protocol outlines the design of our upcoming study, which aims to evaluate a modified version of the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) specifically adapted for older adults (65+), ASSIP for Older Adults (ASSIP-OA), as add-on to Treatment as Usual (TAU) and compared to TAU only. Methods: A multicentre two-group parallel randomised controlled trial will be conducted to compare TAU to ASSIP-OA (3–5 sessions) and standardized letters for 2 years as an add-on to treatment as usual. The trial, which is open labelled, will recruit 132 participants (65+) within psychiatric services in Sweden after a suicide attempt or hospitalisation for serious suicidal plans. The main modifications in comparison with the original ASSIP include (a) flexibility in treatment delivery (offering home visits, breaks and shorter/longer sessions as needed), (b) an additional session together with relatives or other support person(s), and (c) age-specific linguistic and content-wise adaptation of homework, letters, and case conceptualization. The primary outcome is a suicidal episode (fatal or non-fatal). Secondary outcomes include psychiatric symptoms, severity of suicidal ideation, coping style and quality of life. The trial also includes measures of feasibility, health-care utilization and negative effects of treatment. Discussion: This study has the potential to inform the development and implementation of a more person-centred care for suicidal older adults. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06831942. Registered February 21, 2025, revised May 21, 2025.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Attempted suicide short intervention program, Multicentre randomised controlled trial, Older adults, Suicide attempt, Suicide preventions
in
BMC Psychiatry
volume
25
issue
1
article number
588
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • pmid:40481430
  • scopus:105007859102
ISSN
1471-244X
DOI
10.1186/s12888-025-07016-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
09e0068e-a87f-425c-8e23-7bb5975c82af
date added to LUP
2025-10-23 15:21:53
date last changed
2025-10-24 03:00:03
@article{09e0068e-a87f-425c-8e23-7bb5975c82af,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Older adults are underrepresented in suicide prevention research, even though suicide rates are higher in this age group (65+) than in any other age group in many countries worldwide. There are few clinical intervention studies that target this age group. A promising preventive intervention is the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP). Given differences in suicidal behaviour between older and younger adults, there is a need for suicide prevention intervention models that are adaptable to the heterogenic needs of older adults. This study protocol outlines the design of our upcoming study, which aims to evaluate a modified version of the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) specifically adapted for older adults (65+), ASSIP for Older Adults (ASSIP-OA), as add-on to Treatment as Usual (TAU) and compared to TAU only. Methods: A multicentre two-group parallel randomised controlled trial will be conducted to compare TAU to ASSIP-OA (3–5 sessions) and standardized letters for 2 years as an add-on to treatment as usual. The trial, which is open labelled, will recruit 132 participants (65+) within psychiatric services in Sweden after a suicide attempt or hospitalisation for serious suicidal plans. The main modifications in comparison with the original ASSIP include (a) flexibility in treatment delivery (offering home visits, breaks and shorter/longer sessions as needed), (b) an additional session together with relatives or other support person(s), and (c) age-specific linguistic and content-wise adaptation of homework, letters, and case conceptualization. The primary outcome is a suicidal episode (fatal or non-fatal). Secondary outcomes include psychiatric symptoms, severity of suicidal ideation, coping style and quality of life. The trial also includes measures of feasibility, health-care utilization and negative effects of treatment. Discussion: This study has the potential to inform the development and implementation of a more person-centred care for suicidal older adults. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06831942. Registered February 21, 2025, revised May 21, 2025.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hed, Sara and Berg, Anne Ingeborg and Tillfors, Maria and Ehnvall, Anna and Westrin, Åsa and Wiktorsson, Stefan and Gysin-Maillart, Anja and Waern, Margda}},
  issn         = {{1471-244X}},
  keywords     = {{Attempted suicide short intervention program; Multicentre randomised controlled trial; Older adults; Suicide attempt; Suicide preventions}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Psychiatry}},
  title        = {{Attempted suicide short intervention program for older adults 65+ (ASSIP-OA) : a study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07016-7}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s12888-025-07016-7}},
  volume       = {{25}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}