AID-trial Assertive Intervention After Deliberate Self-harm

Summary

Background

Previous suicide attempts is a high-risk factor with a repetition rate between 12-30 percent. Compliance with after treatment is often poor. A systematic review by Hawton, 1999 states a lack of evidence on psychosocial interventions due to selections bias or statistical power.

Objective

The aim is to investigate if assertive outreach, incorporating hands-on guidance and motivational support of compliance with follow-up treatment after suicide attempts is able to reduce the frequency of non-fatal and fatal suicide acts in a one-year follow-up period.

Method and Design

A randomized, controlled intervention trial in a prospective design. The patients included will be randomized to either standard treatment (n = 120) or intervention treatment (N = 120), representing 6 - 8 assertive outreach contacts with a research nurse after suicide attempts or deliberate self-harm. The outreach contacts are thought of as supporting and guiding home visits towards compliance with after care or follow-up treatment Inclusion criteria Males and females, aged 12 years or older with a recent suicide attempt or act of deliberate self-harm, living independently and not diagnosed with severe mental illness (psychosis, severe dementia)

Outcome

The primary outcome measure is repeated fatal suicidal act (fatal or non fatal)assessed by the Danish Cause of Death Register and the rate of repeated suicide attempts/deliberate self-harm registered in the medical records by the collaborating wards and units in their routine procedure of treating people applying for help in relation to suicidal behavior.

Conditions

• Suicide, Attempted

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Assertive intervention

8-20 assertive contacts after suicide attempt

OTHER

Standard treatment

In standard treatment there is no procedure for ensuring that the patient will actually receive the recommended treatment. Patients are often referred to available treatment modalities such as general practitioner, psychological treatment, treatment for alcohol abuse, and most often, the patients are themselves responsible for getting into contact with the treatment to which they are referred.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Mental Health Services in the Capital Region, Denmark

  collaborator OTHER

• Ministry of Social Affairs, Denmark

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• University of Copenhagen

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Merete Nordentoft, Dr. Med Sc. · Professor

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2007-11-30

Primary Completion

2011-12-31

Completion

2011-12-31

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations