Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24587233›Full record

Trial reportPloS one2014

Effectiveness of online self-help for suicidal thoughts: results of a randomised controlled trial.

Bregje A J van Spijker, Annemieke van Straten, Ad J F M Kerkhof

Open access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 58 papers, 13 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
58citing papers in PubMed, 13 pooled it
18.4field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

58 citing papers in PubMed, 13 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 151 citations in OpenAlex.

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  13. Psychosocial interventions for self-harm in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.

Bregje A J van SpijkerCentre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia ; Department of Clinical Psychology and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Psychology and Education, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Annemieke van StratenDepartment of Clinical Psychology and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Psychology and Education, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Ad J F M KerkhofDepartment of Clinical Psychology and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Psychology and Education, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMany people with suicidal thoughts do not receive treatment. The Internet can be used to reach more people in need of support.

objectiveTo test the effectiveness of unguided online self-help to reduce suicidal thoughts.

method236 adults with mild to moderate suicidal thoughts were randomised to the intervention (n=116) or a waitlist control group (n=120). Assessments took place at baseline, and 2, 4 and 6 weeks later. Primary outcome was suicidal thoughts. Secondary outcomes were depressive symptoms, anxiety, hopelessness, worry, and health status.

resultsThe intervention group showed a small significant effect in reducing suicidal thoughts (d=0.28). Effects were more pronounced for those with a history of repeated suicide attempts. There was also a significant reduction in worry (d=0.33). All other secondary outcomes showed small but non-significant improvements.

conclusionsAlthough effect sizes were small, the reach of the internet could enable this intervention to help many people reduce their suicidal thoughts.

trial registrationNetherlands Trial Register NTR1689.

Indexed as

InternetSuicidal IdeationAdultCognitive Behavioral TherapyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedTherapy, Computer-AssistedTreatment OutcomeYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID24587233
PMCPMC3937447
OpenAlexW1995953028

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.