Developing a Digital Intervention for Adolescent Nonsuicidal Self-injury
Northwestern University
80 participants
Jun 4, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
This is a feasibility trial of a digital mental health intervention aimed at adolescents (ages 14-18) with nonsuicidal self-injury and who are not currently engaged in mental health treatment. The study has two arms: a self-guided DMHI and an active control which will involve the delivery of non-interactive psychoeducational content via the same app interface. The primary goals of this project are to evaluate the feasibility of the intervention and trial procedures in preparation for a fully-powered randomized-controlled trial.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria4
- Current NSSI (NSSI on 2 or more days in the last month
- English language skills sufficient to engage in the consent and intervention procedures
- Age 14-18
- Access to smartphone
Exclusion Criteria3
- Severe mental health diagnoses for which this intervention would be inappropriate (psychotic disorders, active manic episodes)
- Severe suicide risk, including suicidal ideation with a plan and intent to act
- Current engagement in psychotherapy
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Interventions
The digital intervention for NSSI is an app-based intervention consisting of 16 modules (8 focused on internal skills and 8 focused on external sources of support) to be delivered twice weekly for 8 weeks. Modules containing psychoeducation and skill-based practice, and brief assessments. All content is delivered by a highly interactive conversational agent that guides users through the app content via a text-like interface. Psychoeducational content and strategies center on cognitive behavioral principles and support increased knowledge of external sources of support. Brief assessments examine NSSI and use of skills.
The control intervention is an app-based adolescent healthy living intervention consisting of 16 modules containing psychoeducation (e.g., sleep hygiene, water intake, exercise). Modifications will be made to an existing intervention used as a control in prior studies, 1,2 to mitigate potential contraindication for participants with eating disorder comorbidity by replacing nutrition with sun exposure content and an expansion of module content on sleep hygiene and exercise. Like the treatment app, all content in the control app is delivered by a highly interactive conversational agent that guides users through the app content via a text-like interface. Psychoeducational content and psychological strategies delivered center on stress management and healthy living.
Locations(1)
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NCT07224165