TY - JOUR
T1 - Online self-help for suicidal thoughts
T2 - 3-month follow-up results and participant evaluation
AU - Van Spijker, Bregje A.J.
AU - van Straten, Annemieke
AU - Kerkhof, Ad J.F.M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 The Authors.
PY - 2015/9/1
Y1 - 2015/9/1
N2 - Background: As a substantial proportion of people with suicidal thoughts does not receive treatment, the internet can be a utilized to reach more people who need support. Aims: To examine maintenance of effects of online self-help for suicidal thoughts at 3-month follow-up within the intervention group of a randomized controlled trial (of which between-group 6-week post-test results have previously been reported, showing a small effect of 0.28 for suicidal thoughts in favour of the intervention group), and to investigate acceptability of the intervention through participant evaluation. Methods: 236 adults with mild to moderate suicidal thoughts were randomized to the intervention (n =116) or a waitlist control group (n =120). Assessments took place at baseline, post-test (6. weeks later), and follow-up (3. months after post-test). This paper reports on the intervention group and follow-up assessment only. Results: Effects established at 6-week post-test were generally maintained at 3-month follow-up in the intervention group. Participant evaluation revealed that a majority thought their suicidal thoughts had decreased during the study, that adherence to the intervention was below average, and that levels of satisfaction were acceptable. Limitations: The control group could not serve as a comparator as they had received access to the intervention at post-test. Conclusions: Effects of online self-help for suicidal thoughts can be maintained for up to three months. Participant evaluation indicated that online self-help for suicidal thoughts is acceptable, but there is also room for improvement.
AB - Background: As a substantial proportion of people with suicidal thoughts does not receive treatment, the internet can be a utilized to reach more people who need support. Aims: To examine maintenance of effects of online self-help for suicidal thoughts at 3-month follow-up within the intervention group of a randomized controlled trial (of which between-group 6-week post-test results have previously been reported, showing a small effect of 0.28 for suicidal thoughts in favour of the intervention group), and to investigate acceptability of the intervention through participant evaluation. Methods: 236 adults with mild to moderate suicidal thoughts were randomized to the intervention (n =116) or a waitlist control group (n =120). Assessments took place at baseline, post-test (6. weeks later), and follow-up (3. months after post-test). This paper reports on the intervention group and follow-up assessment only. Results: Effects established at 6-week post-test were generally maintained at 3-month follow-up in the intervention group. Participant evaluation revealed that a majority thought their suicidal thoughts had decreased during the study, that adherence to the intervention was below average, and that levels of satisfaction were acceptable. Limitations: The control group could not serve as a comparator as they had received access to the intervention at post-test. Conclusions: Effects of online self-help for suicidal thoughts can be maintained for up to three months. Participant evaluation indicated that online self-help for suicidal thoughts is acceptable, but there is also room for improvement.
KW - Cognitive behavioral therapy
KW - Evaluation
KW - Follow-up
KW - Internet
KW - Online
KW - Self-help
KW - Suicidal thoughts
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84938063656&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.invent.2015.07.001
DO - 10.1016/j.invent.2015.07.001
M3 - Article
SN - 2214-7829
VL - 2
SP - 283
EP - 288
JO - Internet Interventions
JF - Internet Interventions
IS - 3
ER -