Effectiveness of a web-based self-help program for suicidal thinking in an australian community sample: Randomized controlled trial

Bregje A.J. Van Spijker; Aliza Werner-Seidler; Philip J. Batterham; Andrew Mackinnon; Alison L. Calear; John A. Gosling; Julia Reynolds; Ad J.F.M. Kerkhof; Daniela Solomon; Fiona Shand; Helen Christensen

doi:10.2196/jmir.8595

Effectiveness of a web-based self-help program for suicidal thinking in an australian community sample: Randomized controlled trial

Bregje A.J. Van Spijker
, Aliza Werner-Seidler
, Philip J. Batterham
, Andrew Mackinnon
, Alison L. Calear
, John A. Gosling
, Julia Reynolds
, Ad J.F.M. Kerkhof
, Daniela Solomon
, Fiona Shand
, Helen Christensen^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Treatment for suicidality can be delivered online, but evidence for its effectiveness is needed. Objective: The goal of our study was to examine the effectiveness of an online self-help intervention for suicidal thinking compared to an attention-matched control program. Methods: A 2-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted with assessment at postintervention, 6, and, 12 months. Through media and community advertizing, 418 suicidal adults were recruited to an online portal and were delivered the intervention program (Living with Deadly Thoughts) or a control program (Living Well). The primary outcome was severity of suicidal thinking, assessed using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Results: Intention-to-treat analyses showed significant reductions in the severity of suicidal thinking at postintervention, 6, and 12 months. However, no overall group differences were found. Conclusions: Living with Deadly Thoughts was of no greater effectiveness than the control group. Further investigation into the conditions under which this program may be beneficial is now needed. Limitations of this trial include it being underpowered given the effect size ultimately observed, a high attrition rate, and the inability of determining suicide deaths or of verifying self-reported suicide attempts.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-11
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of Medical Internet Research
Volume	20
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.8595
Publication status	Published - 14 Feb 2018

Funding

C-SSRS: Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale LwDT: Living with Deadly Thoughts MMRM: mixed-model repeated measures NHMRC: National Health and Medical Research Council SCBS: Suicide Call Back Service SIDAS: Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale Sincere thanks to Anna Frayne and Kale Dyer, who provided support in the management of the trial. This study was supported by a grant from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC; GNT1046317) and forms part of the program of research conducted by the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (GNT1042580). The funder does not have any role or ultimate authority in the study design; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of data; writing of the report; or the decision to submit the report for publication. AC is supported by NHMRC Early Career Fellowship 1122544. PB is supported by NHMRC Early Career Fellowship 1083311. HC is supported by NHMRC Fellowship 1056964.

Funders	Funder number
Columbia
NHMRC
Early Career Fellowship 1122544
Australian National Health and Medical Research Council
Early Career Fellowship 1083311
National Health and Medical Research Council	GNT1046317, 1122544, 1046317, 1056964
National Science Foundation	1042580
NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention	GNT1042580, 1083311

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Psychosocial interventions
Randomized controlled trial
Suicide

Access to Document

10.2196/jmir.8595

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Cite this

Van Spijker, B. A. J., Werner-Seidler, A., Batterham, P. J., Mackinnon, A., Calear, A. L., Gosling, J. A., Reynolds, J., Kerkhof, A. J. F. M., Solomon, D., Shand, F., & Christensen, H. (2018). Effectiveness of a web-based self-help program for suicidal thinking in an australian community sample: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(2), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.8595

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abstract = "Background: Treatment for suicidality can be delivered online, but evidence for its effectiveness is needed. Objective: The goal of our study was to examine the effectiveness of an online self-help intervention for suicidal thinking compared to an attention-matched control program. Methods: A 2-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted with assessment at postintervention, 6, and, 12 months. Through media and community advertizing, 418 suicidal adults were recruited to an online portal and were delivered the intervention program (Living with Deadly Thoughts) or a control program (Living Well). The primary outcome was severity of suicidal thinking, assessed using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Results: Intention-to-treat analyses showed significant reductions in the severity of suicidal thinking at postintervention, 6, and 12 months. However, no overall group differences were found. Conclusions: Living with Deadly Thoughts was of no greater effectiveness than the control group. Further investigation into the conditions under which this program may be beneficial is now needed. Limitations of this trial include it being underpowered given the effect size ultimately observed, a high attrition rate, and the inability of determining suicide deaths or of verifying self-reported suicide attempts.",

keywords = "Psychosocial interventions, Randomized controlled trial, Suicide",

author = "\{Van Spijker\}, \{Bregje A.J.\} and Aliza Werner-Seidler and Batterham, \{Philip J.\} and Andrew Mackinnon and Calear, \{Alison L.\} and Gosling, \{John A.\} and Julia Reynolds and Kerkhof, \{Ad J.F.M.\} and Daniela Solomon and Fiona Shand and Helen Christensen",

year = "2018",

month = feb,

day = "14",

doi = "10.2196/jmir.8595",

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Van Spijker, BAJ, Werner-Seidler, A, Batterham, PJ, Mackinnon, A, Calear, AL, Gosling, JA, Reynolds, J, Kerkhof, AJFM, Solomon, D, Shand, F & Christensen, H 2018, 'Effectiveness of a web-based self-help program for suicidal thinking in an australian community sample: Randomized controlled trial', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.8595

Effectiveness of a web-based self-help program for suicidal thinking in an australian community sample: Randomized controlled trial. / Van Spijker, Bregje A.J.; Werner-Seidler, Aliza; Batterham, Philip J. et al.
In: Journal of Medical Internet Research, Vol. 20, No. 2, 14.02.2018, p. 1-11.

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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T1 - Effectiveness of a web-based self-help program for suicidal thinking in an australian community sample

T2 - Randomized controlled trial

AU - Van Spijker, Bregje A.J.

AU - Werner-Seidler, Aliza

AU - Batterham, Philip J.

AU - Mackinnon, Andrew

AU - Calear, Alison L.

AU - Gosling, John A.

AU - Reynolds, Julia

AU - Kerkhof, Ad J.F.M.

AU - Solomon, Daniela

AU - Shand, Fiona

AU - Christensen, Helen

PY - 2018/2/14

Y1 - 2018/2/14

N2 - Background: Treatment for suicidality can be delivered online, but evidence for its effectiveness is needed. Objective: The goal of our study was to examine the effectiveness of an online self-help intervention for suicidal thinking compared to an attention-matched control program. Methods: A 2-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted with assessment at postintervention, 6, and, 12 months. Through media and community advertizing, 418 suicidal adults were recruited to an online portal and were delivered the intervention program (Living with Deadly Thoughts) or a control program (Living Well). The primary outcome was severity of suicidal thinking, assessed using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Results: Intention-to-treat analyses showed significant reductions in the severity of suicidal thinking at postintervention, 6, and 12 months. However, no overall group differences were found. Conclusions: Living with Deadly Thoughts was of no greater effectiveness than the control group. Further investigation into the conditions under which this program may be beneficial is now needed. Limitations of this trial include it being underpowered given the effect size ultimately observed, a high attrition rate, and the inability of determining suicide deaths or of verifying self-reported suicide attempts.

AB - Background: Treatment for suicidality can be delivered online, but evidence for its effectiveness is needed. Objective: The goal of our study was to examine the effectiveness of an online self-help intervention for suicidal thinking compared to an attention-matched control program. Methods: A 2-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted with assessment at postintervention, 6, and, 12 months. Through media and community advertizing, 418 suicidal adults were recruited to an online portal and were delivered the intervention program (Living with Deadly Thoughts) or a control program (Living Well). The primary outcome was severity of suicidal thinking, assessed using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Results: Intention-to-treat analyses showed significant reductions in the severity of suicidal thinking at postintervention, 6, and 12 months. However, no overall group differences were found. Conclusions: Living with Deadly Thoughts was of no greater effectiveness than the control group. Further investigation into the conditions under which this program may be beneficial is now needed. Limitations of this trial include it being underpowered given the effect size ultimately observed, a high attrition rate, and the inability of determining suicide deaths or of verifying self-reported suicide attempts.

KW - Psychosocial interventions

KW - Randomized controlled trial

KW - Suicide

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U2 - 10.2196/jmir.8595

DO - 10.2196/jmir.8595

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85042076038

SN - 1438-8871

VL - 20

SP - 1

EP - 11

JO - Journal of Medical Internet Research

JF - Journal of Medical Internet Research

IS - 2

ER -

Effectiveness of a web-based self-help program for suicidal thinking in an australian community sample: Randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Persistent URL (handle)

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