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The management of non-compliance with referral to out-patient after-care among attempted suicide patients: a controlled intervention study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

C. Van Heeringen*
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine and Public Health, University Hospital Gent and the Association for Mental Health, Gent, Belgium
S. Jannes
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine and Public Health, University Hospital Gent and the Association for Mental Health, Gent, Belgium
W. Buylaert
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine and Public Health, University Hospital Gent and the Association for Mental Health, Gent, Belgium
H. Henderick
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine and Public Health, University Hospital Gent and the Association for Mental Health, Gent, Belgium
D. De Bacquer
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine and Public Health, University Hospital Gent and the Association for Mental Health, Gent, Belgium
J. Van Remoortel
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine and Public Health, University Hospital Gent and the Association for Mental Health, Gent, Belgium
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr C. van Heeringen, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium.

Synopsis

The failure to comply with referral for out-patient after-care is a well-documented problem among attempted suicide patients. The present study aimed at the investigation of an experimental referral procedure by means of a randomized controlled study. Non-compliant patients in the experimental group were visited in their homes by a community nurse in order to assess reasons for non-compliance and to motivate patients to comply with referral. One year after their suicide attempt patients were visited in their homes in order to assess repetition of suicidal behaviour. Uni-and multi-variate analyses showed a significant beneficial effect of the experimental procedure on compliance with referral. A near-significant effect of the experimental procedure on the rate of repetition of suicidal behaviour was found.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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