Citation

Loveridge SM. J. Psychosoc. Nurs. Ment. Health Serv. 2013; 51(9): 32-36.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Healio)

DOI

10.3928/02793695-20130612-03

PMID

23786242

Abstract

A quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted via a convenience sample of 39 adolescents with a recent history of self-injury who were admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit. It was postulated that the use of a safe kit would decrease the urge to self-injure during the participant's hospital stay. Participants were screened using the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory 9 and enrolled in the study after informed consent was received. Patients designed a safe kit, filling it with items that may help them refrain from self-injury when the urge was high. At the end of the hospital stay, participants completed a questionnaire evaluating the use of the safe kit in the context of other coping skills used during their admission. Sixty-two percent (n = 23) of participants used the kit as a means of coping with urges to self-injure. Sixty-one percent of those who used the kit strongly agreed that the safe kit reduced the urge to self-injure. Further research is needed with a larger sample to explore the effectiveness of a safe kit in maintaining safety on an adolescent unit. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(x), xx-xx.].

Language: en