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Biomedical subjects

E Dyer

Publications and source records attributed to E Dyer.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Deliberate self-poisoning in adolescence: why does a brief family intervention work in some cases and not others?

In a randomized trial of a brief family intervention with adolescents who had deliberately poisoned themselves, we have previously reported that, within the group of patients who did not have major depression, the family intervention was significantly superior to routine care in reducing suicidal thinking. The present paper examined whether efficacy was related to changes in family functioning or other possible mediating variables. Potential mediators included family functioning, hopelessness, depression, adolescent problem-solving and compliance with treatment. The efficacy of the family intervention in reducing suicidal ideation within the non-depressed sub-group was probably not mediated by changes in these variables. The implications of this finding are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Cost-effectiveness analysis of a home-based social work intervention for children and adolescents who have deliberately poisoned themselves. Results of a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Little evidence exists regarding the effectiveness or cost-effectiveness of alternative treatment services in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry. AIMS: To assess the cost-effectiveness of a home-based social work intervention for young people who have deliberately poisoned themselves. METHOD: Children aged < or = 16 years, referred to child mental health teams with a diagnosis of deliberate self-poisoning were randomly allocated to either routine care (n = 77) or routine care plus the social work intervention (n = 85). Clinical and resource-use data were assessed over six months from the date of trial entry. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of the main outcome measures or costs. In a sub-group of children without major depression, suicidal ideation was significantly lower in the intervention group at the six-month follow-up (P = 0.01), with no significant differences in cost. CONCLUSIONS: A family-based social work intervention for children and adolescents who have deliberately poisoned themselves is as cost-effective as routine care alone.

Adolescent↗

Randomized trial of a home-based family intervention for children who have deliberately poisoned themselves.

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether an intervention given by child psychiatric social workers to the families of children and adolescents who had attempted suicide by taking an overdose reduced the patients' suicidal feelings and improved family functioning. METHOD: One hundred sixty-two patients, aged 16 or younger, who had deliberately poisoned themselves were randomly allocated to routine care (n = 77) or routine care plus the intervention (n = 85). The intervention consisted of an assessment session and four home visits by the social workers to conduct family problem-solving sessions. The control group received no visits. Both groups were assessed at the time of recruitment and 2 and 6 months later. The primary outcome measures were the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire, the Hopelessness Scale, and the Family Assessment Device. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the primary outcomes between the intervention and control groups at either of the outcome assessments. Parents in the intervention group were more satisfied with treatment (mean difference 1.4 [95% confidence interval 0.6 to 2.1]). A subgroup without major depression had much less suicidal ideation at both outcome assessments (analysis of covariance p < .01) compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: The home-based family intervention resulted in reduced suicidal ideation only for patients without major depression.

Adolescent↗

Correlates and short-term course of self-poisoning in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The features of adolescents who had taken an overdose were assessed to determine the focus for a treatment trial. METHOD: Overdose cases were compared with psychiatric and community controls who had not taken an overdose in respect of mental disorders and family background. RESULTS: Overdose cases had high rates of major depression, but most of them recovered from depression within six weeks of the overdose. There was a specific association between taking an overdose and family dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Family dysfunction could be a useful focus in a clinical trial of the aftercare of adolescents who have taken an overdose.

Adolescent↗

Producing videotapes as professional marketing tools.

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Audiovisual Aids↗