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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

Published in:

01-08-2010 | Original Paper

Sustainable effects on suicidality were found for the Nuremberg alliance against depression

Authors: Ulrich Hegerl, Roland Mergl, Inga Havers, Armin Schmidtke, Hartmut Lehfeld, Günter Niklewski, David Althaus

Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience | Issue 5/2010

Abstract

During an intense four-level community-based intervention program conducted in Nuremberg (490,000 inhabitants) in 2001 and 2002 [Nuremberg Alliance Against Depression (NAD)], the number of suicidal acts (main outcome completed + attempted suicides) had dropped significantly (−21.7%), a significant effect compared with the baseline year and the control region (Wuerzburg, about 290,000 inhabitants). To assess the sustainability of the intervention effects the number of suicidal acts was assessed in the follow-up year (2003), after the termination of the 2-year intervention. Also, in the follow-up year (2003), the reduction in suicidal acts compared with the baseline year in Nuremberg (2000 vs. 2003: −32.4%) was significantly larger than that in the control region (P = 0.0065). The reduction was even numerically larger than that of the intervention years (2001, 2002). Thus, 1 year after the end of the main intervention, preventive effects on suicidality of the NAD remain at least stable. The four-level intervention concept appears to be cost-effective and is presently implemented in many European regions.

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Title: Sustainable effects on suicidality were found for the Nuremberg alliance against depression
Authors: Ulrich Hegerl
Roland Mergl
Inga Havers
Armin Schmidtke
Hartmut Lehfeld
Günter Niklewski
David Althaus
Publication date: 01-08-2010
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience / Issue 5/2010
Print ISSN: 0940-1334
Electronic ISSN: 1433-8491
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-009-0088-z

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Sustainable effects on suicidality were found for the Nuremberg alliance against depression

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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