Citation

Hassanian-Moghaddam H, Sarjami S, Kolahi AA, Lewin T, Carter G. Arch. Suicide Res. 2015; 21(1): 138-154.

Affiliation

a Department of Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine , Toxicological Research Center, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811118.2015.1004473

PMID

25774646

Abstract

This study reports the outcomes, during follow-up, of a low-cost postcard intervention in a RCT of hospital-treated self-poisoning (n = 2300). The intervention was 9 postcards over 12 months (plus usual treatment) v usual treatment. Three binary endpoints at 12-24 months (n = 2001) were; any suicidal ideation, suicide attempt or self-cutting. There was a significant reduction in any suicidal ideation (RRR 0.20 CI 95% 0.13-0.27), (NNT 8, 6-13), and any suicide attempt (RRR 0.31, 0.06-0.50), (NNT 35, 19-195), in this non-western population. However, there was no effect on self-cutting (RRR -0.01, -1.05-0.51). Sustained, brief contact by mail may reduce some forms of suicidal behaviour in self-poisoning patients during the post intervention phase.

Language: en