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The Self-help Online against Suicidal thoughts (SOS) trial: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Overview of attention for article published in Trials, January 2017
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Title
The Self-help Online against Suicidal thoughts (SOS) trial: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Published in
Trials, January 2017
DOI 10.1186/s13063-017-1794-x
Pubmed ID
Authors

Charlotte Mühlmann, Trine Madsen, Carsten Hjorthøj, Ad Kerkhof, Merete Nordentoft, Annette Erlangsen

Abstract

Suicidal thoughts are common, causing distress for millions of people all over the world. However, people with suicidal thoughts might not access support due to financial restraints, stigma or a lack of available treatment offers. Self-help programs provided online could overcome these barriers, and previous efforts show promising results in terms of reducing suicidal thoughts. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of an online self-help intervention in reducing suicidal thoughts among people at risk of suicide. The Danish Self-help Online against Suicidal thoughts (SOS) trial is a partial replication of a previously conducted Dutch trial. A randomized, waiting-list controlled trial with 1:1 allocation ratio will be carried out. A total of 438 people with suicidal thoughts will be recruited from the Danish suicide hotline, The Lifeline's, website and allocated to the intervention condition (N = 219) or the control condition (N = 219). The intervention condition consists of a 6-week, Internet-based self-help therapy intervention. The format of the intervention is self-help, but the participants can be guided by the trial manager. The control condition consists of a waiting-list assignment for 32 weeks. The primary outcomes are frequency and intensity of suicidal thoughts. Secondary outcome measures include depressive symptoms, hopelessness, worrying, quality of life, costs related to health care utilization and production loss. Number of deliberate self-harm episodes, suicides and deaths will, as well as the participant's evaluation of the intervention and the experience of negative effects, be investigated. Assessments will be conducted over the intervention website through self-report questionnaires at baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 32 weeks (6 months post intervention). If we find the intervention to be linked to reductions in suicidal thoughts, this will strengthen the evidence that online self-help interventions are relevant tools for people with suicidal thoughts. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02872610 . Registered on 9 August 2016.

Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 137 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
United States 1 <1%
Uganda 1 <1%
Unknown 135 99%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Ph. D. Student 22 16%
Researcher 19 14%
Student > Master 19 14%
Student > Bachelor 17 12%
Student > Doctoral Student 10 7%
Other 13 9%
Unknown 37 27%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Psychology 53 39%
Medicine and Dentistry 13 9%
Nursing and Health Professions 12 9%
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 3 2%
Computer Science 2 1%
Other 15 11%
Unknown 39 28%