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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01123174

Effectiveness of a Case Management Algorithm: ALGOS After a Suicide Attempt

The suicidal behaviors are phenomena eminently multifactorial. It is thus always difficult to define univocal strategies of prevention of suicide repetition, during the emergency stay, i.e. almost in general population. One find 23 clinical trials in this topic in the past 25 years, and 18 are negative. The majority of the positive trials have the concern of being dissociated from an assumption of responsibility of care strictly speaking, to adopt a position "méta", nearer to the concept of "case management": how to remain in contact with the suicide attempter, without forcing it in this every day life, replacing a possible proposing, but assumption of responsibility resources reliable and quickly accessible in the event of at risk situation? Each one of these studies tests devices which seem more appropriate to such or such characteristic of this population, by retaining only simple criteria like the sex, the number of former suicide attempts, the proposal or not for an assumption of responsibility of care, the observance or not with the plan of care. Thus, it would seem interesting to combine these approaches in an algorithm entitled "ALGOS".

Main aim: To test the effectiveness of this algorithm of case management, named "ALGOS", in reducing the number of death by suicide, in terms of reduction of suicide re-attempts and the number of loss of contact patients in the ALGOS group during 6 months period, compared to a control group of suicide attempters treated as usual (i.e. primarily transmitted to the attending physician).

Secondary objectives: To evaluate, according to the method validated by Beecham in 1992, direct medico-economic impact in the year which follows the introduction of algorithm ALGOS. Reduction of the other suicidal behaviors in 6 months (reduction in the full number of suicidal repetitions in each group, evolution of the score of suicidal ideation, etc…). To evaluate the effect of the algorithm, at the 13th month. To study the possible differences within the time in terms of suicidal repetitions in the 2 groups. To propose different profiles of answers according to psychopathology, the number of suicide attempts, suicidal character, the sex,…

Methodology: Comparative simple blind prospective multicentric controlled study

Completed

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University Hospital, Angers, Angers, France

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About this study

Evaluations: The subjects will be included in the participating centers following a suicide attempt (SA). After checking of the criteria, information and signature of the study consent, the subjects will be randomized in one of the 2 groups (ALGOS versus Control). A fax of inclusion will be sent to the centralized research team of the Clinical Investigation Center (CIC) of Lille. All the subjects included will be then evaluated at the 6th month and 13th month after the SA, during a phone call. The final evaluation will be carried out in the current of the 13th month, so as to avoid a recontact at the time of the period birthday, too charged affectively at the majority with the patients. This phone call, personal, will be carried out by an trained psychologist. A mail preventing the subject of the call will be addressed approximately 10 days before. During the evaluations at the 6th month and 13th month, the number of suicidal repetitions will be reported, consumption of care since inclusion will be noted, the scale of suicidal ideation of Beck assessed, and a psychopathological evaluation carried out (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview DSM IV).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Surviving to a suicide attempt (SA) directly leaving the Emergency unit or have been hospitalized less than 7 days

Exclusion criteria

  • recidivists who made 4 SA and more in the 3 past years

Treatment and study plan

ALGOS algorithm of case management

Behavioral

If the subject survives one 1st SA (first attempter): he leaves the center where he was included with a "chart resource" (crisis card) which contains addresses of the Web sites of associations of prevention of the suicide, as well as an accessible phone number 24/24h.

If the subject is not a first attempter : he will be recontacted on the telephone between the 10th and the 21st day following the SA. If the subject is not contacted or little observing in the plan of care, it will receive a series of postcards then regularly, with 4 recoveries: to 2, 3, 4 and 5 months after the attempt.

Other names: ALGOS Group

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of suicide re-attempters

    Time frame: six months

    the number of suicide re-attempters 6 months following the attempt index

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of deaths per suicide

    Time frame: six months and 13 months

    Number of suicide re-attempts in the 6 months following the attempt index

  2. Number of lost to follow up

    Time frame: six months and 13 months

  3. Number of suicide re-attempters

    Time frame: 13 months

  4. Number of suicide re-attempts

    Time frame: six months and 13 months

    Number of suicide re-attempts in the 6 months following the attempt index

  5. Suicidal ideation intensity

    Time frame: six months and 13 months

    The suicidal ideation will be measured by Scale of Suicidal Ideation (A. Beck, M. Kovacs, and A. Weissman, 1979) in the 6 months following the attempt index and in the 13 months.

  6. medical cost

    Time frame: six months and one year

    Numbers of hospitalisations, numbers of consultations, and drugs consummation during the year following the suicide attempt will be measured to estimate the medical cost

  7. Evaluation of the psychopathological profile

    Time frame: six months and 13 months

    The psychopathological profile will be evaluated by the French version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (DSM IV)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Lille

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of a "Case Management Algorithm" After a Suicide Attempt in Terms of Repetition of the Suicidal Behaviors and Medico-economic Impact

Acronym: ALGOS

Important dates

Study start
2010
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2014
First posted
May 14, 2010
Registry last updated
May 14, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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