Cognitive-behavioural intervention for self-harm: randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Self-harm by young people is occurring with increasing frequency. Conventional in-patient and out-patient treatment has yet to be proved efficacious.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of a short cognitive-behavioural therapy intervention with 90 adolescents and adults who had recently engaged in self-harm.


METHODS
Participants (aged 15-35 years) were randomly assigned to treatment as usual plus the intervention, or treatment as usual only. Assessments were completed at baseline and at 3 months, 6 months and 9 months follow-up.


RESULTS
Patients who received cognitive-behavioural therapy in addition to treatment as usual were found to have significantly greater reductions in self-harm, suicidal cognitions and symptoms of depression and anxiety, and significantly greater improvements in self-esteem and problem-solving ability, compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings extend the evidence that a time-limited cognitive-behavioural intervention is effective for patients with recurrent and chronic self-harm.
Slee
Nadja
N
Department of Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology, Wassenaarseweg 52, PO Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands. nadja.slee@planet.nl
Garnefski
Nadia
N
van der Leeden
Rien
R
Arensman
Ella
E
Spinhoven
Philip
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome