The Phenomenology of self-harm prevention whilst an MH inpatient
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Phenomenology of self-harm prevention whilst residing in an inpatient psychiatric facility
IRAS ID
272317
Contact name
Jay Thomas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
UoL001508, University of Liverpool Sponsorship Approval
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 29 days
Research summary
Research and Expert by Experience testimony makes a strong argument for self-harm being a survival focussed act, aimed at helping an individual to manage ongoing psychological difficulties. However, risk-management is frequently prioritised in the approach of mental-healthcare services toward self-harm. In inpatient environments where self-harm can be highly contained, prevention can prematurely position the individual without defense against their psychological difficulties and thus potentially raise psychological distress.
The aim of this research is to investigate the lived experience of preventative measures which limit participants’ use of self-harm whilst living in an inpatient environment and to explore the ways that prevention of self-harm interacts with the original psychological difficulties.
A qualitative study design will be used. This will involve interviewing participants using a semi structured interview schedule. Participants will include individuals above the age of 18, who self-identify as having used self-harm as a way to manage significant psychological distress and who have been limited in their access to do so whilst residing on an inpatient environment. They will have been discharged from the inpatient psychiatric hospital for a minimum of 1 month in the interests of reducing the risk of further distressing a person who may already be in distress and will have capacity to consent to the study. We aim for 6-8 participants due to the time-consuming nature of Interpretative Phenomenological Analyses.
Participants will be recruited via contacts within Mersey Care who agree to help with recruitment. After individuals who meet the criteria have agreed to initial contact, the principal researcher will make telephone contact to inform them of the study’s aims and assess suitability. The participant will be sent an information sheet outlining the study, consent, their rights to withdraw and confidentiality. Semi-structured interviews will then be conducted within NHS property to ensure comfort and safety of participants.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NW/0153
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jul 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion