Depression and Self-harm Study (e-DASH) V1.1

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Randomised controlled trial of the clinical and cost effectiveness of NICE recommended problem solving cognitive behaviour therapy (PS CBT) delivered remotely versus treatment as usual (TAU) in adolescents and young adults with depression who repeatedly self-harm.

  • IRAS ID

    149499

  • Contact name

    Kapil Sayal

  • Contact email

    Kapil.Sayal@nottingham.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Nottingham

  • Research summary

    Self-harm and depression are leading causes of suicide and for self-harming again. Self-harm is particularly common in younger people, therefore this study is looking at 16-30 year olds. A clinical recommendation from NICE Guideline 133 on self-harm is that people who self-harm should receive up to 10 sessions of psychological treatment that is specifically structured for them. Improving Access to Psychological Treatment (IAPT) services who provide psychological treatment for depression tend to exclude people who have recently self-harmed or might be at risk of suicide. Young people who self-harm do not engage well with conventional face to face psychological treatment with as few as 25% attending mental health services. The aim of this study is to determine the acceptability of delivering problem solving based cognitive behaviour therapy (PS CBT) through a video calling system (Skype or similar) or telephone(plus treatment as usual) versus treatment as usual. Half of the individuals who are recruited into the study will receive up to 10 sessions of PS CBT. Through this study we are trying to estimate the clinical and cost effectiveness of delivering the PS CBT delivered remotely compared to treatment as usual.
    Feasibility and acceptability will be judged by study recruitment rate, engagement and retention in treatment, interviews with service users and staff and rates of follow-up. The primary outcome measure is change in Beck Depression Inventory (a measure of depressive symptoms) at 6 months. Secondary outcome measures include time to self-harm, suicidal ideation plans and quality of life. Individuals will complete questionnaires at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Individuals (16-30 year olds) will be recruited from adolescent and adult mental health services within 96 hours of their last self-harm episode. The inclusion criteria are that they display high levels of depressive symptoms and will have self-harmed at least twice.

  • REC name

    East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    14/EM/1084

  • Date of REC Opinion

    22 Aug 2014

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion