Can writing about suicidal thoughts save lives? new trial aims to find out

NCT ID NCT05878795

First seen May 31, 2026

Summary

This study tests a new therapy called Written Exposure Therapy for Suicide Prevention (WET-SP) in 160 active duty military members hospitalized for suicidal thoughts or attempts. Participants either receive the therapy plus standard care, or standard care alone. The therapy involves five sessions of writing about a suicidal crisis to reduce distress and future suicide risk. Researchers will track suicidal thoughts and behaviors for 30 weeks after discharge.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • University of Texas Health Center San Antonio

    RECRUITING

    San Antonio, Texas, 78229, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Written Exposure Therapy for Suicide Prevention (WET-SP) - a brief psychotherapy involving writing about a suicidal crisis

What this could lead to

If it works, this could provide a simple, scalable therapy to reduce suicide risk in military members after hospitalization.

What could go wrong

This is an early-stage trial with only 160 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The therapy is new and its effectiveness is unproven.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Behavior Suicide, Attempted

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.