Citation

Husain N, Chaudhry N, Durairaj SV, Chaudhry I, Khan S, Husain M, Nagaraj D, Naeem F, Waheed W. Trials 2011; 12(1): 159.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/1745-6215-12-159

PMID

21693027

PMCID

PMC3132723

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a global public health problem. In the UK suicide is the second most common cause of death in people aged 15-24 years. Self harm is one of the commonest reasons for medical admission in the UK. In the year following a suicide attempt the risk of a repeat attempt or death by suicide may be up to 100 times greater than in people who have never attempted suicide. Research evidence shows increased risk of suicide and attempted suicide among British South Asian women. The low uptake of statutory services within this community calls into question the appropriateness of the existing services. Both problem solving and interpersonal forms of psychotherapy are beneficial in the treatment of patients who self harm and could potentially be helpful in this ethnic group. The paper describes the trial protocol of adapting and evaluating a culturally appropriate psychological treatment for the adult British South Asian women who self harm. METHODS: We plan to test a culturally adapted Problem Solving Therapy (C MAPS) in British south Asian women who self harm. Eight sessions of problem solving each lasting approximately 50 minutes will be delivered over 3 months. The intervention will be assessed using a prospective rater blind randomized controlled design comparing with treatment as usual (TAU). Outcome assessments will be carried out at 3 and 6 months. At the end a sub group of the participants will be invited for qualitative interviews. DISCUSSION: This study will test the feasibility and acceptability of the C MAPS in British south Asian women. We will be informed on whether a culturally adapted brief psychological intervention compared with treatment as usual for self-harm results in decreased hopelessness and suicidal ideation. This will also enable us to collect necessary information on recruitment, effect size, the optimal delivery method and acceptability of the intervention in preparation for a definitive RCT using repetition of self harm and cost effectiveness as primary outcome measures. Trial Registration Current Controlled Trials 08/H1013/6.

Language: en