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. Single-session interventions, 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 (M-age = 14.95 years) endorsing recent engagement in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) were randomized to receive a 30-min, web-based, single-session intervention-Project SAVE-or an active, attention-matched control program. Proximal outcomes were measured at baseline and immediately postintervention. Long-term outcomes were measured at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Results: Adolescents rated Project SAVE as acceptable; 80% of participants randomized to SAVE completed the intervention. Between-group effects were non-significant for pre-registered outcomes: post-intervention likelihood of future NSSI; 3-month frequencies of NSSI and suicidal ideation at follow-up. Relative to control-group participants, SAVE participants reported short-term improvements in two exploratory outcomes: self-hatred (d =-35, p<.001) and desire to stop future NSSI (d =-25, p =.003). 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.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that Project SAVE is an effective resource for adolescents engaging in SITBs, showing short-term effects. Compared to the control group, SAVE participants showed short-term improvements in exploratory outcomes such as self-hatred and desire to stop future NSSI.