An online, single-session intervention for adolescent self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: Results from a randomized trial
Background: Across 50 years of research, existing interventions for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) in adolescents have remained largely ineffective and inaccessible to those in acute clinical need. Single-session interventions, well-targeted interventions designed to last one session, may be a low-cost and timely resource for adolescents engaging in SITBs who may not otherwise receive treatment. Method: 565 adolescents (Mage = 14.95 years) endorsing recent engagement in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) were randomized to receive a 30-minute, web-based, single-session intervention—“Project SAVE”—or an active, attention-matched control program. Proximal outcomes were measured at baseline and immediately post-intervention. Long-term outcomes were measured at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Results: Relative to control-group participants, SAVE participants reported greater increases in their desire to stop future NSSI (d = .25, p = .003) and greater decreases in self-hatred (d = -.35, p < .001), but no significant difference in perceived likelihood of future NSSI (d = -.16, p = .16), immediately post-intervention. Between-group effects were non-significant for 3-month outcomes (self hatred, frequency of NSSI, frequency of suicidal ideation). Conclusions: Project SAVE is an acceptable resource for adolescents engaging in SITBs—with short-term effects on clinically-relevant outcomes. Future research may evaluate SAVE as an easy-to-access, short-term coping resource for youth engaging in SITBs.