NCT07294079: STARS

Social Threat, Adolescent Relationships, and Suicidality Study

Recruiting now NA Last updated 12 February 2026

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Social threat in Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in 100 participants. Currently enrolling.

Timeline

19 January 2026

Primary endpoint
30 June 2030

30 August 2030

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of Pittsburgh
Phase	NA
Status	Recruiting now
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	na
Design	single group
Masking	none
Primary purpose	basic science
Enrollment	100
Start date	19 January 2026
Primary completion	30 June 2030
Estimated completion	30 August 2030
Sites	1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

• Social threat

Conditions studied

• Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors — all drugs for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors →
• Social Connectedness — all drugs for Social Connectedness →
• Responses to Social Threat — all drugs for Responses to Social Threat →

Sponsor

University of Pittsburgh

Who can join

Adults 12 to 17, female only, with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors or Social Connectedness. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

In recent years, adolescents are having higher rates of emotional health problems, such as suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). The goal of this study is to learn about how teens' attention to different types of information relates to their real-world relationships and their emotional health. The investigators hope this study will help understand why some teens go on to have suicidal thoughts and behaviors and other teens do not. This information will help investigators learn how to improve emotional health in teens and reduce teen suicides.

Participants will be 100 female adolescents (ages 12-17) at high risk for STBs who will complete a series of assessments over the course of 6 months. Assessments include a baseline clinical interview, a visit to examine neural responses during a computer tasks, daily smartphone surveys about social experiences and social connectedness, and follow up questionnaires assessing STBs. Participants will also be asked to donate their text messages during the month that they complete smartphone surveys.

The research procedures will help investigators learn how adolescents react to different types of social situations. Investigators want to see if these reactions affect:

1. How connected adolescents feel to others in their daily lives
2. Adolescents' longer-term risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs)

Participants will be asked to:

* Complete a 10-15 minute screening call to determine eligibility for the study
* Complete one 3 hour virtual (or in-person) interview consisting of a clinical assessment and questionnaires.
* Complete a 2.5-hour in person visit to complete computer tasks while record brain signals are recorded
* Complete \~5 minute smartphone surveys three times a day for 30 days, asking about their daily social experiences and their mood and feelings.
* Provide investigators with retrospective access to their text/direct messages from the month the participant was completing the smartphone surveys.
* Complete online follow-up questionnaires at 3 and 6 months

Publications & conference data

No peer-reviewed publications indexed yet for this trial.