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Journal Article

Citation

Carter GL, Clover K, Whyte IM, Dawson AH, D'Este C. Br. J. Psychiatry 2013; 202(5): 372-380.

Affiliation

Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle and Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Newcastle; Kerrie Clover, BSc (Hons), PhD, MAPS, Suicide Prevention Research Unit, Centre for Mental Health Studies and Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle; Ian M. Whyte, MBBS (Hons), FRACP, FRCP(Edin), FACMT, FAACT, Discipline of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle and Department of Clinical Toxicology and Pharmacology, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Newcastle; Andrew H. Dawson, MBBS, GradDip Epid, FRCP, FRACP, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney and Department of Clinical Toxicology and Pharmacology, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Newcastle; Catherine D'Este, BMath, GradDip MedStat, DipEd, PhD, Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle and Centre for Military and Veterans' Health, University of Queensland, Hurston, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.bp.112.112664

PMID

23520223

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Repetition of hospital-treated self-poisoning and admission to psychiatric hospital are both common in individuals who self-poison. AIMS: To evaluate efficacy of postcard intervention after 5 years. METHOD: A randomised controlled trial of individuals who have self-poisoned: postcard intervention (eight in 12 months) plus treatment as usual v. treatment as usual. Our primary outcomes were self-poisoning admissions and psychiatric admissions (proportions and event rates). RESULTS: There was no difference between groups for any repeat-episode self-poisoning admission (intervention group: 24.9%, 95% CI 20.6-29.5; control group: 27.2%, 95% CI 22.8-31.8) but there was a significant reduction in event rates (incidence risk ratio (IRR) = 0.54, 95% CI 0.37-0.81), saving 306 bed days. There was no difference for any psychiatric admission (intervention group: 38.1%, 95% CI 33.1-43.2; control group: 35.5%, 95% CI 30.8-40.5) but there was a significant reduction in event rates (IRR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.47-0.91), saving 2565 bed days. CONCLUSIONS: A postcard intervention halved self-poisoning events and reduced psychiatric admissions by a third after 5 years. Substantial savings occurred in general hospital and psychiatric hospital bed days.


Language: en

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