Back to search results

Smartphone Treatment for Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior

This study is testing a smartphone app called Therapeutic Evaluative Conditioning for Suicide (TEC-S) to see if it can help reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors. You might be able to join if you are an adult (18+) who has had frequent suicidal thoughts recently, own a smartphone (Android or iOS), and have occasional internet access. You also need to be willing to provide an emergency contact. The study aims to see if TEC-S can reduce the desire to die by suicide over 30 days. The study is currently recruiting 60 participants in the greater-Boston, MA area.

Study design
This is a randomized controlled trial with 60 participants. You would be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one receiving active TEC-S or one receiving an inactive version.
What's involved
You would access a smartphone app daily for 30 days. This app would involve a computerized task/game and three daily check-ins on your emotions and suicidal thoughts.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your desire to die by suicide will be measured through the completion of the treatment phase (day 1 through 30).

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06686901

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Smartphone Delivered Treatment for Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior

Not Yet Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
Massachusetts General Hospital
~60 participants
Updated 2026-07-13 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Smartphone-delivered Therapeutic Evaluative Conditioning for Suicide (TEC-S)Smartphone-delivered inactive Therapeutic Evaluative Conditioning

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Desire to die by suicide (Likert)
Measured over Through completion of treatment phase (day 1 through 30)

Conditions

Suicidal Ideation
Suicide Attempt

Explore related trials

Suicidal IdeationSuicide Attempt

NCT06686901

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, Massachusettsstudy coordinator listed

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Adam C Jaroszewski, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital

Who to contact

Adam C Jaroszewski, PhD
[email protected]
781-258-3082
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Want this trial checked against your situation?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Adults ages 18+
Relatively frequent and recent (≥5 days within the past-month) active suicidal thoughts as assessed via SITBI-R.
Willing and able to provide at least one emergency contact (name, phone number, relation).
Owns an Android or iOS smartphone.
Possesses at least occasional access to Wi-Fi-enabled internet for data down/uploads.
Fluent in English and willing to provide informed consent.
Living in the Boston metropolitan area (i.e., \~50 mile radius around Boston, MA)

Exclusion

Recent (past 3-month) hypo/manic symptoms or homicidal ideation or lifetime psychosis spectrum diagnosis as assessed via MINI 7.0.2.
Recent acute suicide risk operationalized as affirmative responses to BOTH below items during structured clinical interview AND evaluation by the PI in consultation with Mentors/Advisor Drs. Wilhelm, Kleiman, and/or Bentley:
At any time in past week: ≥ 8/10 current intent to act on suicidal thoughts (0 \["not at all"\] to 10 \["extremely strong"\]); AND
At any time in past week: thought of a specific suicide plan (i.e, known method/means and/or location) with access to lethal means
Impaired vision (e.g., legal blindness), technological illiteracy, or intellectual disability that might impair ability to provide valid data and/or informed consent.

What this trial measures

  • Desire to die by suicide (Likert)Through completion of treatment phase (day 1 through 30)

    Right now, how strongly do you want to kill yourself? \[0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely)\]; assessed via 3x/day ecological momentary assessment (Kleiman et al., 2018)