Cost-effectiveness analysis of a home-based social work intervention for children and adolescents who have deliberately poisoned themselves: Results of a randomised controlled trial

Sarah Byford, Richard Harrington, David Torgerson, Michael Kerfoot, Elizabeth Dyer, Val Harrington, Adrine Woodham, Julia Gill, Faye McNiven

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Background: Little evidence exists regarding the effectiveness or cost- effectiveness of alternative treatment services in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry. Aims: To assess the cost-effectiveness of a home- based social work intervention for young people who have deliberately poisoned themselves. Method: Children aged ≤ 16 years, referred to child mental health teams with a diagnosis of deliberate self-poisoning were randomly allocated to either routine care (n = 77) or routine care plus the social work intervention (n = 85). Clinical and resource-use data were assessed over six months from the date of trial entry. Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of the main outcome measures or costs. In a sub-group of children without major depression, suicidal ideation was significantly lower in the intervention group at the six-month follow-up (P = 0.01), with no significant differences in cost. Conclusions: A family-based social work intervention for children and adolescents who have deliberately poisoned themselves is as cost- effective as routine care alone.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)56-62
    Number of pages6
    JournalBritish Journal of Psychiatry
    Volume174
    Publication statusPublished - 1999

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