Patients who met these criteria were identified by hospital staff, who also queried patients about their willingness to
be approached by the research team to take part in a study Hospital
staff informed the research team of potential participants who
assented to being contacted. Research staff met individually with
potential participants on the unit to review a description of the
study, participant rights, and the consent form. Participants were
asked to complete a brief multiple-choice questionnaire to assess
sufficient comprehension of participation. Oral assent was also
sought from the attending psychiatrist validating that the participant
was capable of providing consent and would not experience undue
distress from study participation. About 55% of those approached
consented to participate.