Exploring the acceptability of a brief, rapid-access, self-harm focussed talking therapy: a qualitative analysis of patient experiences

Objective To explore the acceptability of the Community Outpatient Psychotherapy Engagement Service for Self-harm (COPESS) intervention and trial procedures for participants. Design A mixed-method approach and a single-blind randomised controlled trial design with 1:1 allocation to either COPESS plus treatment as usual or treatment as usual alone.

Setting Primary care. Participants Fifteen semistructured interviews were conducted with participants in the COPESS trial; eight were randomised to the intervention arm, and seven were randomised to the treatment-as-usual arm.

Interviews lasted 30 - 60 min. Intervention COPESS is a brief, relational psychotherapy delivered over 4 weekly sessions plus a follow-up, focusing on understanding difficult emotional states and their links to self-harm through here-and-now relational and emotional processes.

Analysis Thematic analysis allowed exploration of themes important to participants in their experiences in the COPESS trial and their experiences of care for self-harm more generally.