Randomised controlled trial of brief psychological intervention after deliberate self poisoning

Objectives To determine the effects of a brief psychological intervention (brief psychodynamic interpersonal therapy) for patients after deliberate self poisoning compared with usual treatment To compare the impact of the active intervention and usual treatment on patients' satisfaction with care. Design Randomised controlled trial. Participants 119 adults who had deliberately poisoned themselves and presented to the emergency department of a teaching hospital. Setting Community based study Intervention four sessions of therapy delivered in the patient's home. Control patients received "treatment as usual," which in most cases consisted of referral back to their general practitioner. Outcome measures Severity of suicidal ideation six months after treatment as assessed by the Beck scale for suicidal ideation. Secondary outcome measures at six month follow up included depressive symptoms as measured by the Beck depression inventory, patient satisfaction with treatment, and self reported subsequent attempts at self harm. Results Participants randomised to the intervention had a significantly greater reduction in suicidal ideation at six month follow up compared with those in the control group (reduction in the mean (SD) Beck scale 8.0 upsilon 1.5). They were more satisfied with their treatment and were less likely to report repealed attempts to harm themselves at follow up (proportion repeating 9% upsilon 28% in control group; difference 19%, 95% confidence interval 9% to 30%, P = 0.009). Conclusion Brief psychodynamic interpersonal therapy may be a valuable treatment after people have deliberately tried to poison themselves.