Actively Recruiting
Development and Testing of a Digitally Assisted Risk Reduction Platform for Youth at High Risk for Suicide
Led by Ksana Health · Updated on 2026-03-04
78
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
K
Ksana Health
Lead Sponsor
C
Columbia University
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth, and rates in the US are rising despite prevention efforts. Researchers are evaluating a digital platform called Vira to improve how care is delivered to adolescents at high risk for suicide. This platform aims to use smartphone data and secure communication tools to better understand and manage risk factors like psychological distress, anhedonia, behavioral withdrawal, and sleep problems in young people receiving intensive outpatient treatment. The study compares two groups of adolescent patients aged 13 to 18 years old who are in an intensive outpatient Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program. One group uses the Vira platform, which collects data passively from smartphone sensors about activity, sleep, mobility, and mood-related language. Vira also prompts daily check-ins and supports practitioners with reminders to encourage behavior changes. The other group receives the usual treatment with the addition of a passive monitoring app called EARS. Participants will use their assigned app during their intensive outpatient treatment. Researchers will assess outcomes using tools like the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and Scale for Suicidal Ideation over six months. Other measures include anxiety, risky behaviors, sleep quality, mood, and pleasure scales at three and six months. The study monitors clinical outcomes to determine if the digital platform enhances care for youth at risk of suicide.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
A Digitally Assisted Risk Reduction Platform for Youth at High Risk for Suicide
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Written informed assent from adolescents ages 13-17 years old and permission from legal guardians, or consent from adolescents age 18 years old
- Receiving treatment at the Intensive Adolescent and Family DBT Program
- Aged 13 to 18 years old
- Owns a personal smartphone (Android or iPhone 7+)
- Fluent in English
You will not qualify if you...
- Adolescents who require a higher level of care (i.e., not admitted to the Intensive Outpatient DBT program)
- Adolescents already assigned a clinician in the Intensive Adolescent and Family DBT program
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Duration of intensive outpatient treatment
Participants receive intensive outpatient Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) supported either by the Vira digital platform or treatment as usual. The Vira platform includes a smartphone app that passively collects data and prompts daily check-ins to support behavior change and therapy.
Regular visits as part of intensive outpatient program
Duration - Up to 6 months
Participants are assessed for clinical outcomes including suicidal ideation, anxiety, sleep quality, and mood at 3 and 6 months after treatment begins.
Assessments at 3 and 6 months
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Columbia University
New York, New York, United States, 10032
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
R
Randy Auerbach, PhD, ABPP
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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