title: An exploratory randomised trial of a simple, brief psychological intervention to reduce subsequent suicidal ideation and behaviour in patients admitted to hospital for self-harm.
abstract: Implementation intentions link triggers for self-harm with coping skills and appear to create an automatic tendency to invoke coping responses when faced with a triggering situation.
  
  
  
  To test the effectiveness of implementation intentions in reducing suicidal ideation and behaviour in a high-risk group.
  
  
  
  Two hundred and twenty-six patients who had self-harmed were randomised to: (a) forming implementation intentions with a 'volitional help sheet'; (b) self-generating implementation intentions without help; or (c) thinking about triggers and coping, but not forming implementation intentions. We measured self-reported suicidal ideation and behaviour, threats of suicide and likelihood of future suicide attempt at baseline and then again at the 3-month follow-up.
  
  
  
  All suicide-related outcome measures were significantly lower at follow-up among patients forming implementation intentions compared with those in the control condition (ds>0.35). The volitional help sheet resulted in fewer suicide threats (d = 0.59) and lowered the likelihood of future suicide attempts (d = 0.29) compared with patients who self-generated implementation intentions.
  
  
  
  Implementation intention-based interventions, particularly when supported by a volitional help sheet, show promise in reducing future suicidal ideation and behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Christopher J. Armitage, PhD, Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester; Wirda Abdul Rahim, PhD, Richard Rowe, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield; Rory C. O'Connor, PhD, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK chris.armitage@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Armitage
authors.affiliation: Christopher J. Armitage, PhD, Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester; Wirda Abdul Rahim, PhD, Richard Rowe, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield; Rory C. O'Connor, PhD, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Wirda Abdul
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Rahim
authors.affiliation: Christopher J. Armitage, PhD, Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester; Wirda Abdul Rahim, PhD, Richard Rowe, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield; Rory C. O'Connor, PhD, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.affiliation: Christopher J. Armitage, PhD, Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester; Wirda Abdul Rahim, PhD, Richard Rowe, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield; Rory C. O'Connor, PhD, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Rory C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult