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The effect of referral for brief intervention for alcohol misuse on repetition of deliberate self-harm: an exploratory randomized controlled trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2010

M. J. Crawford ,
E. Csipke ,
A. Brown ,
S. Reid ,
K. Nilsen ,
J. Redhead  and
R. Touquet
M. J. Crawford*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, Imperial College London, UK
E. Csipke
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, Imperial College London, UK
A. Brown
Affiliation:
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, UK
S. Reid
Affiliation:
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, UK
K. Nilsen
Affiliation:
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, UK
J. Redhead
Affiliation:
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
R. Touquet
Affiliation:
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr M. J. Crawford, Reader in Mental Health Services Research, Department of Psychological Medicine, Imperial College London, Claybrook Centre, 37, Claybrook Road, London W6 8LN, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Referral for brief intervention among people who misuse alcohol is reported to be effective but its impact among those who present to services following deliberate self-harm (DSH) has not been examined.

Method

Consecutive patients who presented to an Emergency Department (ED) following an episode of DSH were screened for alcohol misuse. Those found to be misusing alcohol were randomly assigned to brief intervention plus a health information leaflet or to a health information leaflet alone. The primary outcome was whether the patient reattended an ED following a further episode of DSH during the subsequent 6 months. Secondary outcomes were alcohol consumption, mental health and satisfaction with care measured 3 and 6 months after randomization.

Results

One hundred and three people took part in the study. Follow-up data on our primary outcome were obtained for all subjects and on 63% for secondary outcomes. Half those referred for brief intervention received it. Repetition of DSH was strongly associated with baseline alcohol consumption, but not influenced by treatment allocation. There was a non-significant trend towards the number of units of alcohol consumed per drinking day being lower among those randomized to brief intervention.

Conclusions

Referral for brief intervention for alcohol misuse following an episode of DSH may not influence the likelihood of repetition of self-harm. Longer-term interventions may be needed to help people who deliberately harm themselves and have evidence of concurrent alcohol misuse.

Keywords

Alcohol abusedeliberate self-harmrandomized controlled trial
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 40 , Issue 11 , November 2010 , pp. 1821 - 1828
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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