Psychiatry ·
Suicide follow-up trial finds best approach differs by age; trigeminal stimulation fails to aid ADHD cognition; online program cuts seizures
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The SPARC trial in The American Journal of Psychiatry found that support calls worked better for adults at six months and two-way Caring Contacts texts worked better for adolescents at 12 months after suicide-risk screening. A sham-controlled trial found trigeminal nerve stimulation did not improve cognition in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and a self-guided online program reduced functional seizures.
THE DETAILS
- Research Oct 28, 2026The pragmatic SPARC trial in The American Journal of Psychiatry randomized patients who screened at risk for suicide in nine emergency departments and 36 primary care clinics to instrumental support calls or two-way Caring Contacts texts added to usual care. On the primary six-month outcome, adults receiving texts had higher suicidal ideation and behavior scores than those receiving calls (adjusted difference in means 0.50; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.88), while adolescents did not differ. At 12 months, a secondary outcome, adolescents receiving texts scored lower (adjusted difference in means -0.64; 95% CI -1.11 to -0.18).Sources: The American Journal of Psychiatry, PubMed
- Research Oct 28, 2026In a multicenter, double-blind phase 2b trial in The American Journal of Psychiatry, 150 youths aged 8 to 18 years with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) received four weeks of nightly active or sham external trigeminal nerve stimulation. Intention-to-treat analysis showed no differential effect on any cognitive or physiological outcome after treatment or on cognitive measures at six months. The device received Food and Drug Administration clearance for ADHD based on pilot trial findings that the authors' larger multicenter trial in the United Kingdom did not confirm, according to the paper.Sources: The American Journal of Psychiatry, PubMed
- Research Oct 26, 2026A three-arm trial in JAMA Neurology tested Re-PROGRAM, a five-session internet intervention drawing on cognitive behavioral, acceptance and commitment, and dialectical behavior therapy, in 107 adults with functional seizures in Melbourne, Australia. The self-guided version plus standard care reduced monthly seizure frequency versus standard care alone (rate ratio 0.35; 95% CI 0.18 to 0.69) and improved anxiety at all three time points. The therapist-guided version improved anxiety at six months, but its seizure reduction was not significant. The authors described it as an option for patients unable to access specialist psychological care.Sources: JAMA Neurology, PubMed
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