Individualized Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for patients with sui-cidal ideation: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

• Applicant: Dr. Lasse Sander
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 559161826

Anonymous telephone counselling is the first step towards professional counselling for many people with suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately, the next step into psychotherapeutic treatment is very difficult for many people. A new treatment package consisting of psychotherapy via video consultation and online self-help materials could facilitate access to psychotherapeutic care for people with suicidal thoughts. However, it is still unclear whether remote treatment is feasible and safe for this patient group. Previous internet-based services have mostly been provided as self-help interventions without therapeutic guidance, and have not been adapted to the individual needs of patients. This could explain why the treatment effects so far have been small and why treatment is often discontinued. Therefore, we developed an online psychotherapeutic intervention that combines video-based psychotherapy with individually selected online modules. In order to test the feasibility, safety and acceptance of this intervention, as well as to identify patient-relevant outcomes, 80 patients are being treated with the new form (intervention group) or regular face-to-face psychotherapy (control group) at six centres. To ensure patient safety, regular risk assessments, a safety plan and cooperation with local psychiatric clinics will be used. In addition to quantitative assessments, qualitative interviews will be conducted with patients and therapists. If this novel treatment package proves to be safe and effective and meets with patient and practitioner approval, this study will lay the foundation for a novel, low-threshold, remote treatment for patients with suicidal ideation.

• DFG Programme: Clinical Trials
• Co-Investigators: Dr. Rebekka Büscher; Privatdozent Dr. Tobias Teismann