Robinson Jo, Hetrick Sarah, Gook Sara, Cosgrave Elizabeth, Yuen Hok Pan, McGorry Patrick, Yung Alison
ORYGEN Youth Health Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne Locked Bag 10, Victoria, Australia.
BMC Psychiatry. 2009 Sep 23;9:59. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-9-59.
Suicidal behaviour and deliberate self harm are common among adolescents. Limited evidence exists regarding interventions that can reduce risk; however research indicates that maintaining contact either via letter or postcard with at-risk adults following discharge from services can reduce risk. The aim of the study is to test a postcard intervention among people aged 15-24 who presented to mental health services but are not accepted, yet are at risk of suicide.
METHODS/DESIGN: The study is a 3-year randomised controlled trial conducted at Orygen Youth Health Research Centre in Melbourne Australia. Participants are young help-seekers aged 15-24 who are at risk of suicide. Participants will be recruited over a 12 month period. The intervention comprises a regular postcard to be sent monthly for 12 months. The postcard enquires after their well being and includes information regarding individual sources of help and evidence-based self help strategies. Participants are assessed at baseline, 12 and 18 months.
This paper describes the development of a study which aims to reduce suicide risk in a sample of young help-seekers. If effective, this intervention could have significant clinical and research implications for a population who can be hard to treat and difficult to research.
The study was registered with the Australian Clinical Trials Registry; number: ACTRN012606000274572.
自杀行为和蓄意自残在青少年中很常见。关于可降低风险的干预措施的证据有限；然而，研究表明，在服务对象出院后通过信件或明信片与有自杀风险的成年人保持联系可降低风险。本研究的目的是在15至24岁、曾前往心理健康服务机构但未被接纳且有自杀风险的人群中测试明信片干预措施。
方法/设计：该研究是一项在澳大利亚墨尔本的Orygen青年健康研究中心进行的为期3年的随机对照试验。参与者是有自杀风险的15至24岁的年轻求助者。将在12个月内招募参与者。干预措施包括每月寄一张明信片，为期12个月。明信片询问他们的健康状况，并包括有关个人求助来源和循证自助策略的信息。在基线、12个月和18个月时对参与者进行评估。
本文描述了一项旨在降低年轻求助者样本中自杀风险的研究的开展情况。如果有效，这种干预措施可能对难以治疗和研究的人群具有重大的临床和研究意义。
该研究已在澳大利亚临床试验注册中心注册；编号：ACTRN012606000274572。
