National Institute of Mental Health 5R34MH130634-03

Combined Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia for Adolescents at High Risk for Suicide: A Pilot RCT

This award funds a pilot randomized controlled trial combining dialectical behavior therapy and digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia to reduce suicide risk in adolescents. The study aims to test feasibility, safety, and effectiveness in reducing insomnia and suicidal behaviors.

Description

The proposed research aims to conduct a feasibility and preliminary effectiveness trial of combining evidence-based behavioral treatments for insomnia and suicidality/self-harm as a novel approach to adolescent suicide prevention. The study will use dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) as the suicide-focused treatment and internet-delivered digital cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (dCBTI) as the sleep-focused intervention. The trial will include an initial open trial with five youths and their therapists, followed by a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 40 youths aged 12-18 with insomnia and high suicide risk. Outcomes will include feasibility, acceptability, safety, reductions in insomnia severity, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. The study hypothesizes that augmenting DBT with dCBTI will produce greater reductions in SH and SI than DBT alone. The approach leverages existing evidence-based treatments to expedite dissemination if effective.

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