TY - JOUR PY - 2016// TI - An exploratory randomised trial of a simple, brief psychological intervention to reduce subsequent suicidal ideation and behaviour in patients admitted to hospital for self-harm JO - British journal of psychiatry A1 - Armitage, Christopher J. A1 - Abdul Rahim, Wirda A1 - Rowe, Richard A1 - O'Connor, Rory C. SP - 470 EP - 476 VL - 208 IS - 5 N2 - BackgroundImplementation intentions link triggers for self-harm with coping skills and appear to create an automatic tendency to invoke coping responses when faced with a triggering situation.AimsTo test the effectiveness of implementation intentions in reducing suicidal ideation and behaviour in a high-risk group.

METHODTwo hundred and twenty-six patients who had self-harmed were randomised to: (a) forming implementation intentions with a 'volitional help sheet'; (b) self-generating implementation intentions without help; or (c) thinking about triggers and coping, but not forming implementation intentions. We measured self-reported suicidal ideation and behaviour, threats of suicide and likelihood of future suicide attempt at baseline and then again at the 3-month follow-up.

RESULTSAll suicide-related outcome measures were significantly lower at follow-up among patients forming implementation intentions compared with those in the control condition (ds>0.35). The volitional help sheet resulted in fewer suicide threats (d = 0.59) and lowered the likelihood of future suicide attempts (d = 0.29) compared with patients who self-generated implementation intentions.

CONCLUSIONSImplementation intention-based interventions, particularly when supported by a volitional help sheet, show promise in reducing future suicidal ideation and behaviour.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0007-1250 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.114.162495 ID - ref1 ER -