Comparing the effectiveness of interpersonal psychotherapy interventions for adolescents (IPT-AST) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on academic retention, Entrapment, attitude to psychological help-seeking and belonging in students with suicidal thoughts.
Comparing the effectiveness of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on academic persistence, feelings of entrapment, attitudes toward seeking psychological help, and sense of belonging among students with suicidal ideation.
Design
A controlled, parallel-group, open-label (non-blinded) clinical trial involving 45 participants, utilizing non-random, purposive sampling and random assignment to groups via the `rand` function in Microsoft Excel.
Settings and conduct
From among female secondary school students in Qaem Shahr who exhibit suicidal ideation, 45 individuals are selected via purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three groups of 15 (two experimental groups and one control group). The first experimental group receives Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents based on the protocol by Young, Mufson, and Schuler (2016), while the second experimental group receives the Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy protocol developed by Bryan and Rudd (2018); both interventions are delivered over 10 sessions. During this period, the control group receives standard school services and remains on a waiting list.
No blinding is employed.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: age range of 13 to 18 years; a score of at least 5 on the suicidal ideation scale; not currently receiving other psychological or psychiatric interventions; and provision of informed consent by both the student and their parents. Exclusion criteria: absence from more than one session; withdrawal from the study; and the emergence of an acute psychological condition requiring immediate specialized intervention.
Intervention groups
Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-AST) and Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT)
Main outcome variables
Academic resilience; sense of entrapment; attitudes toward seeking psychological help; sense of belonging
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20261016071447N1
Registration date:2026-10-27, 1405/08/05
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2026-10-27, 1405/08/05
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-10-27, 1405/08/05
Registrant information
Name
Faeze Mirzaie
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 11 4248 2293
Email address
faezeh2567@gmail.com
Recruitment status
recruiting
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-10-31, 1405/08/09
Expected recruitment end date
2027-01-05, 1405/10/15
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Comparing the effectiveness of interpersonal psychotherapy interventions for adolescents (IPT-AST) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on academic retention, Entrapment, attitude to psychological help-seeking and belonging in students with suicidal thoughts.
Public title
Comparison of the Effects of Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Students with Suicidal Ideation.
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Being in the 13 to 18 age range
Enrolled in lower or upper secondary education at schools in the city of Qaem Shahr
Score 5 or higher on the Beck Suicidal Thought Scale
Not receiving other similar psychological or psychiatric interventions concurrently during the conduct of the research
Submission of informed consent by the student and parents
Exclusion criteria:
Must not suffer from severe psychiatric disorders (such as psychosis or bipolar disorder).
Should not simultaneously receive other psychological treatments or pharmacotherapy.
Age
From 13 years old to 18 years old
Gender
Female
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
45
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
In this clinical trial, participants will first be selected from female secondary school students using purposive non-random sampling based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria; eligible candidates—defined as those scoring at least 5 on the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation—will be identified, and upon obtaining informed consent, they will be randomly assigned to the study groups using the `rand` function in Microsoft Excel.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Islamic Azad University - Sari Branch (Research Ethics Committee)
Street address
7th Azad University, kilometer 7 of Darya Road (Farahabad)
City
Sari
Province
Mazandaran
Postal code
4661611691
Approval date
2026-07-14, 1405/04/23
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.SARI.REC.1405.114
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Suicidal ideation
ICD-10 code
R45.8
ICD-10 code description
Other symptoms and signs involving emotional state. Suicidal ideation (tendencies)
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Academic persistence score in the Martin and Marsh questionnaire
Timepoint
Before the intervention, after the intervention, and one month after the end of the intervention
Method of measurement
Martin and Marsh’s (2008) 6-Item Academic Resilience Scale
2
Description
Score for the feeling of being trapped on the Gilbert and Allan questionnaire; Beurs et al.
Timepoint
Before the intervention, after the intervention, and one month after the end of the intervention
Method of measurement
Gilbert and Allen’s 16-item questionnaire (1998); Beurs et al.’s 4-item questionnaire (2020)
3
Description
Score for Attitude Toward Seeking Psychological Help
Timepoint
Before the intervention, after the intervention, and one month after the end of the intervention
Method of measurement
Fischer and Farina’s Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (1995)
4
Description
Belonging Score
Timepoint
Before the intervention, after the intervention, and one month after the end of the intervention
Method of measurement
Van Arden et al.’s 15-Item Interpersonal Needs Assessment Questionnaire (2012)
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention Group 1 receives the Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents program (Young, Mufson, & Schuler, 2016) over 10 weekly sessions. The content of the sessions includes the assessment of significant interpersonal relationships, communication analysis, communication strategies for improving relationships, role-playing, and the application of these strategies to real-life situations.
Category
Treatment - Other
2
Description
Intervention Group 2 receives the short-term cognitive-behavioral program developed by Bryan and Rudd (2018), delivered in 10 weekly sessions. The content of these sessions covers emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility, crisis management, weakening the belief system supporting suicide, and relapse prevention.
Category
Treatment - Other
3
Description
Control group: They receive standard school services and remain on the waiting list. Once the study is concluded, the intended treatment will be provided to this group.
Category
Treatment - Other
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Qaem Shahr County Education Department Counseling Center
Full name of responsible person
Faezeh Mirzaie
Street address
Shaghayegh 3 Alley, Shohada-ye Koochaksara Street
City
Qaem Shahr
Province
Mazandaran
Postal code
4765958193
Phone
+98 11 4223 3619
Email
faezeh2567@gmail.com
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Abbasali Pouraqajan
Street address
Islamic Azad University of Sari, Farahabad Road,
City
Sari
Province
Mazandaran
Postal code
4661611691
Phone
+98 11 3444 5787
Email
faezeh2567@gmail.com
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Islamic Azad University
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Faezeh Mirzaei
Position
Student
Latest degree
Master
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Omid 3 Alley, Alborz 56, Tehran Street
City
Qaem Shahr
Province
Mazandaran
Postal code
4761857313
Phone
+98 11 4248 2293
Email
faezeh2567@gmail.com
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Ghodratollah Abbasi
Position
Associate Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Islamic Azad University of Sari, Farahabad Road
City
Sari
Province
Mazandaran
Postal code
4661611691
Phone
+98 11 3444 5787
Email
gh_abbasi@iausari.ac.ir
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Faezeh Mirzaie
Position
Student
Latest degree
Master
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Azad University of Sari, Farahabad Road
City
Sari
Province
Mazandaran
Postal code
4661611691
Phone
+98 11 3444 5787
Email
faezeh2567@gmail.com
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Justification/reason for indecision/not sharing IPD
There is no further information.
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available