The efficacy of telephonic follow up in prevention of suicidal reattempt in patients with suicide attempt history

Abstract

Background: prevention of suicide is one of priority world health. Suicide is one of the preventable causes of death. The aim of this study is evaluation of telephone follow up on suicide reattempt. Materials and Methods : This randomized controlled clinical trial is a prospective study which has been done in Noor Hospital of Isfahan-Iran, at 2010. 139 patients who have suicide attempt history divided in one of two groups, randomly, 70 patients in" treatment as usual (TAU)" and 69 patients in "brief interventional control (BIC). Seven telephone contact with BIC group patients have been done "during six months" and two questionnaires have been filled in each session. The data has been analyzed by descriptive and Chi-square test, under SPSS. Results : No significant differences of suicide reattempt has been found between two groups (P = 0.18), but significant reduction in frequency of suicidal thoughts (P = 0.007) and increase in hope at life (P = 0.001) was shown in intervention group. Conclusion : Telephones follow up in patients with suicide history decrease suicidal thought frequency" and increase hope in life, significantly.

Keywords

• Prevention
• suicide
• suicides reattempt
• telephone follow up