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Adolescents Who Self Harm: A Comparison of Those Who Go to Hospital and Those Who Do Not
Article first published online: 7 MAR 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2008.00485.x
© 2008 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Additional Information
How to Cite
Hawton, K., Rodham, K., Evans, E. and Harriss, L. (2009), Adolescents Who Self Harm: A Comparison of Those Who Go to Hospital and Those Who Do Not. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 14: 24–30. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2008.00485.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 16 JAN 2009
- Article first published online: 7 MAR 2008
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- Adolescence;
- deliberate self harm;
- self-poisoning;
- overdose;
- hospitalisation;
- paracetamol;
- self-injurious behaviour
Background: Deliberate self harm (DSH) by adolescents is a major problem at both hospital and community levels although little is known about the factors associated with hospital presentation.
Method: Using a community survey a comparison was undertaken of adolescents in 41 schools who reported DSH and presented to hospital with those who reported DSH but did not attend hospital.
Results: While hospital presentation following DSH was associated with several factors, multivariate analysis indicated that the most important were method of DSH (overdose, methods other than self-cutting and multiple methods) and help-seeking before the act.
Conclusions: The few differences between adolescents who present to hospital following DSH and those who do not, other than in method of DSH and prior help-seeking, highlight the need for primary preventive initiatives.