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Intensive Follow‐up Does Not Decrease the Risk of Repeat Suicide Attempts
Author(s) -
Allard Robert,
Marshall Marilyn,
Plante MarieCarmen
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1992.tb00735.x
Subject(s) - randomization , intervention (counseling) , attendance , medicine , randomized controlled trial , suicide risk , intensive care , suicide prevention , poison control , emergency medicine , psychiatry , intensive care medicine , economics , economic growth
We carried out a randomized controlled trial to determine whether an intensive intervention after a suicide attempt could decrease by half the risk of a repeat attempt in the following two years. After initial assessment and randomization, experimental subjects attended 18 therapy appointments over one year, including one home visit, and measures to improve attendance. Control subjects received the usual care. Of 63 experimental subjects, 35% made a repeat attempt, and so did 30% of 63 control subjects. The study had a 99% power to detect the desired decrease of risk (30% to 15%). Clearly, the intervention did not achieve its objective.