Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42261184›Full record

Trial reportSuicide & life-threatening behavior2026

Examining BRITEpath, a Digital Intervention for Reducing Adolescent Suicide Risk in Primary Care: A Randomized-Controlled Trial.

Nermin Toukhy, Candice Biernesser, Jamie Zelazny, Brandie George-Milford, Casey Monteverde, Giovanna Porta, Kaleab Z Abebe, David Brent, Stephanie Stepp

Erratum issued Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Suicide & life-threatening behavior, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. It is linked to trial NCT04672798 (The Center for Enhancing Treatment & Utilization for Depression and Emergent Suicidality Phase 2-Study 3-BRITEPath), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04672798 nacompletednot on this map

The Center for Enhancing Treatment & Utilization for Depression and Emergent Suicidality Phase 2-Study 3-BRITEPath

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of PittsburghRan2020 to 2022Enrolled101ConditionsDepression, Suicidal IdeationArmsBRITEPath, Treatment As Usual (TAU)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Nermin ToukhyDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9382-2972
Candice BiernesserDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0506-1438
Jamie ZelaznyDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Brandie George-MilfordDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Casey MonteverdeDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Giovanna PortaWestern Psychiatric Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Kaleab Z AbebeDepartment of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
David BrentDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5756-2157
Stephanie SteppDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Funding

The Center for Enhancing Triage and Utilization for Depression and Emergent Suicidality (ETUDES) in Pediatric Primary CareP50MH115838 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI Charles Richard Jonassaint · 2018 to 2026
$25.5M
Fulbright U.S. Scholar ProgramIsrael Science Foundation 50/24NIMH NIH HHS MH115838NIMH NIH HHS P50 MH115838University of Pittsburgh
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPrevious research has identified a high need for suicide risk management in primary care settings among adolescents. This randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy and feasibility of BRITEpath, a smartphone-based application and clinician portal designed to help youth in reducing suicide risk.

methodsParticipants (n = 101, ages 12-26, 85.1% female) that were either referred to or were receiving mental health services in primary care were randomly assigned (2:1 allocation) to BRITEpath + TAU (n = 68) or TAU alone (n = 33). Independent evaluators, blinded to treatment, assessed outcomes at baseline, Week 4, and Week 12. Primary outcomes included suicidal thoughts and behaviors, depression, mental health service use, and quality of life; secondary outcomes examined usability and satisfaction.

resultsNo significant differences were found between BRITEpath + TAU and TAU for primary outcomes overall. However, BRITEpath participants reported lower suicidal thoughts over time. History of inpatient and outpatient care moderated the effect of BRITEpath on depression. Participants reported high satisfaction and perceived usefulness of the app.

conclusionsBRITEpath shows promising effects on suicidal thoughts and depression, particularly among those with prior psychiatric care. Future research should explore strategies to enhance engagement, such as integration with ongoing care, which may strengthen the impact on clinical outcomes.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04672798.

Indexed as

Mobile ApplicationsSuicidal IdeationSuicide PreventionAdolescentAdultChildDepressionFemaleHumansMaleMental Health ServicesPrimary Health CareQuality of LifeSmartphoneYoung Adultadolescentsdigital health interventionprimary caresmartphone appsuicide risk

Identifiers

PMID42261184
PMCPMC13247626

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.