BACKGROUND:Hospital-treated self-poisoning is common, with limited effective interventions for reducing subsequent suicidal behaviour. AIMS: To test the efficacy of a postcard intervention to reduce suicidal behaviour. METHOD: Randomised controlled trial of individuals who self-poisoned (n = 2300), the intervention consisted of nine postcards sent over 12 months versus usual treatment. Outcomes assessed at 12 months (n = 2113) were suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and self-cutting (proportion and event rates). RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in any suicidal ideation (relative risk reduction (RRR) = 0.31, 95% CI 0.22-0.38), any suicide attempt (RRR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.11-0.63) and number of attempts (incidence rate ratios (IRR) = 0.64, 95% CI 0.42-0.97). There was no significant reduction in any self-cutting (RRR = 0.14, 95% CI -0.29 to 0.42) or self-cutting events (IRR = 1.03 95% CI 0.76-1.39). CONCLUSIONS: A postcard intervention reduced suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in a non-Western population. Sustained, brief contact by mail may reduce suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in individuals who self-poison.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Hospital-treated self-poisoning is common, with limited effective interventions for reducing subsequent suicidal behaviour. AIMS: To test the efficacy of a postcard intervention to reduce suicidal behaviour. METHOD: Randomised controlled trial of individuals who self-poisoned (n = 2300), the intervention consisted of nine postcards sent over 12 months versus usual treatment. Outcomes assessed at 12 months (n = 2113) were suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and self-cutting (proportion and event rates). RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in any suicidal ideation (relative risk reduction (RRR) = 0.31, 95% CI 0.22-0.38), any suicide attempt (RRR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.11-0.63) and number of attempts (incidence rate ratios (IRR) = 0.64, 95% CI 0.42-0.97). There was no significant reduction in any self-cutting (RRR = 0.14, 95% CI -0.29 to 0.42) or self-cutting events (IRR = 1.03 95% CI 0.76-1.39). CONCLUSIONS: A postcard intervention reduced suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in a non-Western population. Sustained, brief contact by mail may reduce suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in individuals who self-poison.
Authors: Katherine Anne Comtois; Amanda H Kerbrat; Christopher R DeCou; David C Atkins; Justine J Majeres; Justin C Baker; Richard K Ries Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2019-05-01 Impact factor: 21.596
Authors: Kelley J Jansen; Jennifer L Shaw; Katherine Anne Comtois; Emma Elliott-Groves; Trevor Slaney; Jaedon P Avey; Lonnie Nelson Journal: Arch Suicide Res Date: 2021-09-07
Authors: Katrina G Witt; Sarah E Hetrick; Gowri Rajaram; Philip Hazell; Tatiana L Taylor Salisbury; Ellen Townsend; Keith Hawton Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2021-04-22
Authors: Gonzalo Martínez-Alés; José B Cruz Rodríguez; Pablo Lázaro; Arce Domingo-Relloso; María Luisa Barrigón; Ricardo Angora; Beatriz Rodríguez-Vega; Eduardo Jiménez-Sola; Pilar Sánchez-Castro; Eva Román-Mazuecos; Lucía Villoria; Ana José Ortega; Mercedes Navío; Barbara Stanley; Robert Rosenheck; Enrique Baca-García; María Fe Bravo-Ortiz Journal: Can J Psychiatry Date: 2020-12-15 Impact factor: 4.356