title: Manual-assisted cognitive therapy for self-harm in personality disorder and substance misuse: a feasibility trial.
abstract: Aims and method To assess the feasibility of conducting a larger, definitive randomised controlled trial of manual-assisted cognitive therapy (MACT), a brief focused therapy to address self-harm and promote engagement in services. We established recruitment, randomisation and assessment of outcome within a sample of these complex patients admitted to a general hospital following self-harm. We assessed symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety and suicidality at baseline and at 3 months' follow-up. Results Twenty patients were randomised to the trial following an index episode of self-harm, and those allocated to MACT demonstrated improvement in anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. Clinical implications It is feasible to recruit a sample of these complex patients to a randomised controlled trial of MACT following an index episode of self-harm. There is preliminary support that MACT could be an acceptable and effective intervention in patients with personality disorder and substance misuse.
authors.affiliation: University of Glasgow.
authors.forename: Kate M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.affiliation: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
authors.forename: Tom M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: University of Glasgow.
authors.forename: Vairi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: University of Glasgow.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.affiliation: NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richardson