Preventing suicide with Safe Alternatives for Teens and Youths (SAFETY): A randomized feasibility trial

• DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/64ftg_v1
• Publication Date: 2025-02-12T14:53:04Z
• Authors: Moa Karemyr; Martin Bellander; Moa Ponten; Anna Ohlis; Oskar Flygare; Ylva Walldén; Ralf Kuja-Halkola; Gergö Hadlaczky; David Mataix-Cols; Joan R. Asarnow; Clara Hellner; Jennifer L. Hughes; Johan Bjureberg

Objective: Suicide attempts are common in youth and have potentially lethal outcomes. Effective treatments targeting suicide scarce. The objective was to assess the feasibility of a family-based cognitive-behavioral treatment relative an active control for with suicidal behavior. Method: Thirty youths (93% female; mean [SD] age=14.6 [1.5] years) residing Sweden recent behavior (last 3 months) at least one parent per were randomized 12 weeks Safe Alternatives Teens Youths (SAFETY) or Supportive Therapy, treatment. Primary endpoint 3-month post-treatment. Feasibility outcomes included assessment compliance, adverse events, credibility, satisfaction. Secondary attempt, nonsuicidal self-injury, anxiety depression, quality life, emotion dysregulation.Results: Both showed high satisfaction, few events. At primary end-point, two (14%) participants SAFETY four (27%) Therapy had attempted suicide. Nonsuicidal self-injury reduced by 95% (incidence rate ratio=0.05 [95% confidence interval 0.01, 0.20]) 69% ratio=0.31 [0.11, 0.83]) Therapy. Participation SAFETY, but not associated moderate large within-group improvements depression (Cohen’s d=0.85 [0.33, 1.40]), life (d=1.01 [0.48, 1.56]), dysregulation (d=1.22 [0.45, 2.03]).Conclusions: results suggest that is feasible promising A full-scale controlled trial warranted further examine efficacy SAFETY.