Temporal Variables in Telephone Crisis Intervention: Their Relationship to Selected Process and Outcome Variables

This is a report of an analysis of temporal variables (counsellor talk, caller talk, & silence) in a sample of taped calls to a suicide prevention & crisis service. In comparing 3 outcome groups (showing, not showing, or cancelling subsequent appointments), the most important finding was that no-show calls had more silence than the other 2 groups. Correlations between temporal variables, content measures, & follow-up scales were also examined to point directions for future research. (6 refs.)