- Title
- Postcards in Persia: Randomised controlled trial to reduce suicidal behaviours 12 months after hospital-treated self-poisoning
- Creator
- Hassanian-Moghaddam, Hossein; Sarjami, Saeedeh; Kolahi, Ali-Asghar; Carter, Gregory L.
- Relation
- British Journal of Psychiatry Vol. 198, Issue 4, p. 309-316
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.109.067199
- Publisher
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2011
- Description
- 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.
- Subject
- self-harming; suicidal behaviour; Postcards from the EDge
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1062582
- Identifier
- uon:17128
- Identifier
- ISSN:0007-1250
- Language
- eng
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