TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2020//
TI  - Imaginator: a proof-of-concept feasibility trial of a brief imagery-based psychological intervention for young people who self-harm
JO  - Suicide and life-threatening behavior
A1  - Di Simplicio, Martina
A1  - Appiah-Kusi, Elizabeth
A1  - Wilkinson, Paul
A1  - Watson, Peter
A1  - Meiser-Stedman, Caroline
A1  - Kavanagh, David J.
A1  - Holmes, Emily A.
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - OBJECTIVES: The Imaginator study tested the feasibility of a short mental imagery-based psychological intervention for young people who self-harm and used a stepped-wedge design to investigate effects on self-harm frequency reduction at 3 and 6 months. <br><br>METHOD: A total of 38 participants aged 16-25 were recruited via community self-referral and mental health services. Participants were randomized to immediate delivery of Functional Imagery Training (FIT) or usual care followed by delayed delivery after 3 months. FIT comprised two face-to-face sessions, five phone sessions, and use of a smartphone app. Outcomes' assessment was blind to allocation. <br><br>RESULTS: Three quarters of those who began treatment completed face-to-face sessions, and 57% completed five or more sessions in total. Self-harm frequency data were obtained on 76% of the sample at 3 months (primary outcome) and 63% at 6 months. FIT produced moderate reductions in self-harm frequency at 3 months after immediate (d = 0.65) and delayed delivery (d = 0.75). The Immediate FIT group maintained improvements from 3 to 6 months (d = 0.05). Participants receiving usual care also reduced self-harm (d = 0.47). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: A brief mental imagery-based psychological intervention targeting self-harm in young people is feasible and may comprise a novel transdiagnostic treatment for self-harm.<br><br>© 2020 The American Association of Suicidology.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0363-0234
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12620
ID  - ref1
ER  -