title: Randomised controlled trial of therapeutic assessment versus usual assessment in adolescents with self-harm: 2-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An earlier randomised controlled trial demonstrated improved treatment engagement in adolescents who received Therapeutic Assessment (TA) versus Assessment As Usual (AAU), following an emergency presentation with self-harm.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine 2-year outcomes for the same adolescents focusing on frequency of Accident and Emergency (A&E) self-harm presentations and treatment engagement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients in the TA groups (n=35) and the AAU group (n=34) were followed up 2 years after the initial assessment. Their primary and secondary care electronic records were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the frequency of self-harm resulting in A&E presentations between the two groups (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.23 to 2.13, p=0.53). Treatment engagement remained higher in the TA group than the AAU group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TA is not associated with a lower frequency of A&E self-harm presentations. The effect of TA on engagement is maintained 2 years after the initial assessment. Interventions to reduce self-harm in adolescents are needed.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN 81605131, http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN81605131/
authors.affiliation: Department of Child , and Adolescent Psychiatry, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, , London, UK.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ougrin
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Boege
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: Reetoodwaj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Banarsee
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Accident & Emergency; Child Psychiatry