Summary

Eligibility
for people ages 18 years and up (full criteria)
Location
at UCSD
Dates
study started
completion around
Principal Investigator
by Cindy Chang, PsyD (ucsd)

Description

Summary

Despite the high risk of suicide among LGBTQ+ Veterans, there is currently no suicide-focused intervention for this population. This study will refine and pilot Qnnections, a novel group-based suicide prevention intervention that aims to increase social connection and functioning in this population. The project will involve Veterans with lived experience in further refining Qnnections, and then will examine feasibility and acceptability of Qnnections and of study procedures in a pilot randomized clinical trial.

Official Title

Qnnections: A Novel Suicide Prevention Intervention for Increasing Social Connection Among LGBTQ+ Veterans

Details

Theoretical and empirical research consistently identifies perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness as suicide-specific risk factors. This proposal refines and pilots Qnnections, a novel suicide prevention intervention which aims to increase social connection and functioning through improving belongingness and reducing burdensomeness. Phase I (1.5 years) focuses on intervention refinement of Qnnections with a Veteran Advisory Board (n = 8) and expert mentors. In its current form, Qnnections is a 10-week group-based intervention intended to augment Veterans Affairs (VA) suicide prevention efforts, using a cognitive behavioral framework to target social disconnection. After refinement by mentors and Veterans with lived experience, a pilot open trial (n = 10) will engage Veterans and gather acceptability data. Following refinement from Phase 1, Phase 2 (3.5 years) includes a pilot randomized feasibility and acceptability trial (n = 48), with participants randomized to Qnnections (10 group sessions, safety plan, referrals) or an Enhanced Usual Care condition that contains elements of standard VA suicide prevention (safety plan, referrals). Veteran participants in both phases will complete quantitative assessments at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and ten-week follow-up. Qualitative data collection will occur at post-treatment. The focus is feasibility and acceptability of Qnnections and of study procedures.

Keywords

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors, Social Isolation, Suicide, Suicide Prevention, Suicidal Ideation, Qnnections

Eligibility

Location

  • VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
    San Diego California 92161-0002 United States

Lead Scientist at University of California Health

Details

Status
not yet accepting patients
Start Date
Completion Date
(estimated)
Sponsor
VA Office of Research and Development
ID
NCT06803329
Study Type
Interventional
Participants
Expecting 66 study participants
Last Updated