scholarly journals Protocol of a Multi-centric Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate Efficacy of Telephone-Based Psychosocial Interventions on Future Suicide Risk in Suicide Attempters

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. S39-S45
Author(s):  
Ram Pratap Beniwal ◽  
Priya Sreedaran ◽  
Uttara Chari ◽  
Ashok MV ◽  
Triptish Bhatia

Background: Persons with previous history of a suicide attempt are at increased future risk of death by suicide. These vulnerable individuals, however, do not seek receive or seek help from mental health services. Telephone-based psychosocial interventions are potential strategies in augmenting mental health care in such persons. Methods: We aim to compare the efficacy of telephone-based psychosocial interventions (TBPI) with routine telephone reminders in persons with recent suicide attempts using a multi-site, parallel group, rater-blind, two-arm randomized controlled trial design in 362 participants. In the first group, participants will receive three sessions of TBPI comprising of brief supportive interventions, problem-solving strategies, and reminders for adherence to prescribed mental health treatment at weekly intervals. In the second group, participants will receive three telephone reminders for adherence to prescribed mental health treatment at weekly intervals. We will follow up participants for 6 months. Primary outcomes are suicidal ideation scores on Beck’s Scale for Suicide Ideation and number of repeat suicide attempts. Secondary outcomes are scores on Beck’s Hopelessness Scale, Beck’s Depression Inventory, Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale and Visual Analogue Rating Scales for acceptability of interventions. Outcomes will be assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months after receiving telephone interventions or reminders. Results: The trial is currently underway after prospective registration under Clinical Trials Registry of India and has recruited 260 participants till August 15, 2020. Conclusion: This study has potential to generate evidence on additional strategies for use along with standard mental health treatments in management of high-risk suicide behaviors.

2020 ◽  
pp. 025371762093927
Author(s):  
Priya Sreedaran ◽  
Ram Pratap Beniwal ◽  
Uttara Chari ◽  
Smitha T S ◽  
Vidhya Shree S V ◽  
...  

Background: Brief contact interventions such as telephone-based contacts appear to be useful in individuals who attempted suicide. Most studies of telephone-based contacts in such individuals typically consisted of frequent phone reminders for adherence to treatment and seeking help for mental health issues. Telephone-based psychosocial interventions that incorporate elements of supportive and problem-solving strategies are of interest in Indian settings due to their potential application in mitigating the wide mental health gap. Feasibility studies of telephone-based psychosocial interventions could help ascertain the difficulties that arise in the implementation of such treatments. Methods: A multicentric randomized controlled trial (RCT) is currently underway in general hospital settings in two Indian cities to study the efficacy of telephone-based psychosocial interventions in individuals with a recent suicide attempt, with routine telephone contacts (TCs) serving as the comparator. Prior to that RCT, this feasibility study was conducted to assess the acceptability of the telephone-based intervention and telephone contacts. Feasibility was assessed using dropout rates. Acceptability was assessed using participant-rated Likert-based visual analog scores from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater acceptability. Results: Dropout rates and mean acceptability scores for telephone-based psychosocial interventions were 38.5% and 8.63, while those for TCs were 41.7% and 7.57, respectively. Conclusions: Telephone-based psychosocial interventions are feasible and acceptable in individuals with a recent suicide attempt.


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