Citation

Carter GL, Clover K, Whyte IM, Dawson AH, D'Este C. Br. J. Psychiatry 2007; 191: 548-553.

Affiliation

Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Locked Bag 7, Hunter Region Mail Centre, NSW 2310, Australia. Gregory.Carter@newcastle.edu.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.bp.107.038406

PMID

18055960

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Repetition of self-poisoning is common. AIMS: To report the 24-month outcomes of a non-obligatory postcard intervention (plus treatment as usual) compared with treatment as usual. METHOD: In a randomised-controlled trial (Zelen design) conducted in Newcastle, Australia, eight postcards were sent to participants over a 12-month period. The principal outcomes were the proportion of participants with one or more repeat episodes of self-poisoning and the number of repeat episodes per person. RESULTS: No significant reduction was observed in the proportion of people repeating self-poisoning in the intervention group (21.2%, 95% CI 17.0-25.3) compared with the control group (22.8%, 95% CI 18.7-27.0; chi(2)=0.32, d.f.=1, P=0.57); the difference between groups was -1.7% (95% CI -7.5 to 4.2). There was a significant reduction in the rate of repetition, with an incidence risk ratio of 0.49 (95% CI 0.33-0.73). CONCLUSIONS: A postcard intervention maintained the halving of the rate of repetition of hospital-treated self-poisoning events over a 2-year period, although it did not significantly reduce the proportion of individuals who repeated self-poisoning.

Language: en