Suicidal behaviour in psychosis: prevalence and predictors from a randomised controlled trial of case management - Report from the UK700 trial

Background It is unclear whether intensive case management influences the p revalence of suicidal behaviour in patients with psychosis. Aims To compare the effect of intensive case management and standard care o n prevalence of suicidal behaviour in patients with chronic psychosis. Method Patients with established psychosis (n=708) were randomised either t o intensive case management or to standard care. The prevalence of suicidal behaviour was estimated at 2-year follow up and compared between treatment groups. Suicide attempters and non-attempters were compared on multiple so cio-demographic and clinical variables to identify predictors of suicidal b ehaviour. Results There was no significant difference in prevalence of suicidal behav iour between treatment groups. Recent attempts at suicide and multiple rece nt hospital admissions best predicted future attempts. Conclusions Intensive case management does not appear to influence the prev alence of suicidal behaviour in chronic psychosis. Predictors identified in this study confirm some previous findings. Declaration of interest E.W. was funded by a Wellcome Training Fellowship. The UK700 trial was funded by grants from the UK Department of Health and N HS Research and Development programme.