Relate Study

RELATE – study into talking therapy for adults at risk of self-harm

Self-harm is a major health concern in the UK. Many people who self-harm may take an overdose or intentionally injure themselves in response to significant distress or difficult life situations.

 

Overview

RELATE, which is short for Relational Approach to Treating Self-harm, is a study into talking therapy for adults at risk of self-harm. Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) the project is being run by clinical psychologists at Grounded Research, The University of Manchester and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The feasibility study of cognitive analytic therapy, or CAT, aims to recruit 60 patients who have self-harmed at least three times in the past year. Thirty participants will be randomly allocated to CAT in addition to the treatment already provided by the NHS, and thirty will receive the treatment that would normally be provided by the NHS. This is so that we can then compare outcomes.  It is the first time CAT – which is already widely used in the NHS – is being tested as a specific treatment for self-harm. If the results are positive, the researchers hope to carry out a larger scale trial to test if CAT is effective for adults who self-harm.

 

Who can take part?

The study is looking for anyone aged 18 or over who has self-harmed three or more times in the past year. Self-harm can include times where you have intentionally injured yourself (such as cutting, hitting or burning yourself ), taken an overdose or ingested other toxic substances.

For more information please see the links below or contact RELATEtrial@gmmh.nhs.uk  – telephone 07920 410 741

• Patient participant information sheet
• Study poster