Citation

Winter D, Sireling L, Riley T, Metcalfe C, Quaite A, Bhandari S. Psychol. Psychother. 2007; 80(Pt 1): 23-37.

Affiliation

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust, UK. d.winter@herts.ac.uk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, British Psychological Society)

DOI

10.1348/147608306X102778

PMID

17346378

Abstract

Evidence for the effectiveness of psychological therapies for people who self-harm is limited. Personal construct theory provides a model of self-harm and a framework for therapeutic intervention, which was evaluated in the present study. Sixty-four adults presenting to Accident and Emergency departments following self-harm were allocated to a personal construct psychotherapy or a 'normal clinical practice' condition. They completed various measures at assessment points pre- and post-therapy. Repetition of self-harm was assessed over a 3-year period. Participants in the intervention condition showed significantly greater reduction in suicidal ideation, hopelessness and depression post-treatment than the control group; and significantly more reconstruing at this point and 6-month follow-up. There was some evidence suggestive of a lower frequency of repetition of self-harm in the intervention than in the control group. It is concluded that brief personal construct psychotherapy may be effective for people who self-harm and merits further exploration.

Language: en