Crisis telephone consultation for deliberate self-harm patients: effects on repetition

Background No interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing del iberate self-harm (DSH) repetition in this group of patients as a whole. Aims To investigate the effect on repetition of offering emergency telephon e support in a group of hospital-admitted DSH patients. Method A total of 827 DSH patients admitted to medical wards were randomly allocated to either control or intervention (green card) groups. In additio n to treatment as usual, the intervention group was offered telephone suppo rt should any further crises occur. The main outcome measure was DSH repeti tion within six months of the index event. Results The intervention had no significant effect on the overall DSH repet ition rate (odds ratio 1.20, 95% CI 0.82-1.75). Sub-group analysis suggeste d that response to the intervention differed according to the past his-tory of DSH subjects with a previous history repeating more often and first-tim ers appearing to benefit. Conclusions No overall effect of the intervention was shown. Conclusions co ncerning sub-groups must be regarded as speculative, but they suggest that further assessment of the value of telephone support in first-timer DSH pat ients is indicated. Declaration of interest There was no conflict of interest. Funding was prov ided by a grant from the Department of Health.