Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of LEAP: A Selective Preventive Intervention to Reduce Adolescents' Perceived Burdensomeness

摘要

This research draws upon the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide in the development of the LEAP intervention, a web-based selective preventive suicide intervention targeting cognitions of perceived burdensomeness toward others. The pilot randomized controlled trial consisted of 80 adolescents (68.8% female, 65.8% Hispanic) 13-19 of age years who were randomly assigned to either the LEAP intervention or a psychoeducational control condition. Participants completed baseline, posttreatment, and 6-week follow-up assessments. All participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the program. Findings on outcome variables differed across intent-to-treat analyses and treatment completer analyses. Intent-to-treat analysis yielded no significant between-condition differences in perceived burdensomeness at posttreatment or follow-up. Treatment completer analyses revealed significant between-condition differences on outcome variables such that participants who completed the LEAP intervention showed significantly lower perceived burdensomeness scores at post-intervention and significantly lower perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and depressive symptom scores at follow-up as compared to participants in the control condition. No significant differences in suicidal ideation were found between conditions. These findings support the promise of the LEAP intervention as a brief, web-based selective preventive intervention for reducing perceived burdensomeness among adolescents who complete the intervention. This study provides evidence that perceived burdensomeness can be modified via a psychosocial intervention. Future research is needed to identify ways to enhance adolescent engagement with and completion of the intervention.