Effect of telephone contact on further suicide attempts in patients discharged from an emergency department: randomised controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects over one year of contacting patients by telephone one month or three months after being discharged from an emergency department for deliberate self poisoning compared with usual treatment.


METHODS
Multicentre, randomised controlled trial.


METHODS
13 emergency departments in the north of France.


METHODS
605 people discharged from an emergency department after attempted suicide by deliberate self poisoning.


METHODS
The intervention consisted of contacting patients by telephone at one month or three months after discharge from an emergency department for attempted suicide to evaluate the success of recommended treatment or to adjust treatment. Control patients received treatment as usual, in most cases referral back to their general practitioner.


METHODS
The primary outcome measures were proportion of participants who reattempted suicide, number of deaths by suicide, and losses to follow-up at 13 months' follow-up. Secondary outcome measures were types and number of contacts with health care.


RESULTS
On an intention to treat basis, the three groups did not differ significantly for further suicide attempts, deaths by suicide, or losses to follow-up: contact at one month (intervention 23% (34/147) v controls 30% (93/312), difference 7%, 95% confidence interval - 2% to 15%), three months (25% (36/146) v 30%, difference 5%, - 4% to 14%). Participants contacted at one month were less likely at follow-up to report having reattempted suicide (12% v 22% in control group, difference 10%, 2% to 18%).


CONCLUSIONS
Contacting people by telephone one month after being discharged from an emergency department for deliberate self poisoning may help reduce the number of reattempted suicides over one year.
Vaiva
Guillaume
G
University Hospital of Lille, School of Medicine, France. gvaiva@chru-lille.fr
Vaiva
Guillaume
G
Ducrocq
François
F
Meyer
Philippe
P
Mathieu
Daniel
D
Philippe
Alain
A
Libersa
Christian
C
Goudemand
Michel
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000517:prevention & control; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000517:prevention & control; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013689:Telephone