An interventional study of Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Suicide and Suicide Ideation, sponsored by Ardakan University. Recruiting at 1 site in Iran. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-08-20.
Sponsored by Ardakan University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This is a randomized controlled trial that aims to compare the effectiveness of two psychological treatment approaches: the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The study seeks to determine which of these two methods is more effective in reducing suicidal ideation and mental pain in individuals who have recently attempted suicide.
In this study, 60 participants with a history of suicide attempts will be randomly assigned to three groups. One group will receive ASSIP in addition to treatment as usual (TAU), the second group will receive ACT alongside TAU, and the third group will be a control group receiving TAU only. The results will be assessed using the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI) and the Orbach \& Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale (OMMP) at three stages: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up.
The ultimate goal of this research is to provide valuable insights into the comparative effectiveness of ASSIP and ACT interventions for suicide attempters and to contribute to evidence-based suicide prevention strategies. The findings are expected to inform clinical practice and guide future research in this field.
Background and Rationale:
Suicide attempts are a major global public health concern and one of the leading causes of premature mortality, particularly among individuals aged 15 to 29 years. In Iran, as in many countries, suicide attempts represent a critical mental health issue requiring effective, evidence-based interventions. Two therapeutic approaches have demonstrated promising results in reducing suicidal ideation and preventing repeated attempts: the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
ASSIP is a brief, structured, narrative-based intervention developed to address the underlying personal crisis and cognitive-behavioral mechanisms that lead to suicidal behavior. It typically involves three to four sessions, followed by long-term follow-up contacts. ACT is a third-wave behavioral therapy aimed at increasing psychological flexibility and reducing experiential avoidance, often associated with suicidal crises.
Despite evidence supporting both methods internationally, little research has compared their effectiveness in the Iranian context.
Study Overview:
This randomized controlled trial will enroll 60 adults with a recent history of suicide attempt, identified through the Eslamshahr Health Network. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:
Assessment and Follow-up:
The primary outcomes are suicidal ideation and mental pain, assessed using validated Persian versions of the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI) and the Orbach \& Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale (OMMP). Assessments will occur at baseline (pre-test), immediately after treatment (post-test), and one month after intervention (follow-up). Data will be analyzed using SPSS v27, applying descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance, and post hoc comparisons.
Significance:
This study is expected to generate context-specific evidence on the comparative effectiveness of ASSIP and ACT in reducing suicidal ideation and mental (or psychological) pain in Iranian suicide attempters. The findings will help inform mental health services in Iran and contribute to global suicide prevention strategies by clarifying which short-term, evidence-based intervention is more effective and feasible in similar healthcare settings.
569 studies on the registry are indexed under Suicidal Ideation; 203 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 60 is below the median of 80 across 469 interventional studies indexed under Suicidal Ideation.
Browse Suicidal Ideation studies →Ardakan University is the lead sponsor of 5 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.
Compared within Suicidal Ideation, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Suicide. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
DSM diagnostic criteria
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants in this group receive the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) in addition to treatment as usual (TAU).
Behavioral: Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) · Other: Treatment as Usual (TAU)
Participants in this group receive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) alongside treatment as usual (TAU).
Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) · Other: Treatment as Usual (TAU)
This control group receives only treatment as usual (TAU).
Other: Treatment as Usual (TAU)
This is a brief, structured, patient-centered therapy consisting of three to four face-to-face sessions. Each session typically lasts between 60 to 90 minutes. A fourth session may be added if clinically necessary.
This intervention uses the "ACT for Life" protocol, which is designed to maximize recovery after suicidal crises. It consists of three components delivered over three to six individual sessions. The average number of sessions is four to five, with each session lasting approximately 60 minutes.
Treatment as usual (TAU) is not a structured intervention within this study. It may include standard outpatient or inpatient services, pharmacotherapy, or no structured treatment, depending on individual circumstances.
Mental Pain
This measure assesses the intensity of mental pain using the 44-item Orbach \& Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale (OMMP). The scale has nine subscales to measure various aspects of mental pain, including inevitability, lack of control, narcissism/worthlessness, emotional turmoil, numbness, alienation, confusion, social withdrawal, and emptiness (meaninglessness).
Time frame: pre-intervention, immediately following the intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
Suicidal Ideation
This measure assesses suicidal thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors using the 19-item self-report Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). Each item is rated on a Likert scale from 0 to 2, with a total score ranging from 0 to 38. A score of 0-5 indicates no suicidal ideation, 6-19 suggests the presence of suicidal thoughts, and 20-38 signifies a high level of suicide ideation and planning.
Time frame: pre-intervention, immediately following the intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
Plan to share: No — The individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared due to the highly sensitive and confidential nature of the data collected from suicide attempters. The protocol for this study will be published in a scientific journal upon peer review approval. Furthermore, after data collection and analysis are complete, the results will be published in a scientific journal following peer review approval.
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