BMJ  2005;330:1112 (14 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.38441.503333.8F (published 20 April 2005)

Paper

Understanding resolution of deliberate self harm: qualitative interview study of patients' experiences

¹ Centre for Suicide Research, University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, ² Health Services Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT

Objective To explore the accounts of those with a history of deliberate self harm but who no longer do so, to understand how they perceive this resolution and to identify potential implications for provision of health services.

Design Qualitative in-depth interview study.

Setting Interviews in a community setting.

Participants 20 participants selected from a representative cohort identified in 1997 after an episode of deliberate self poisoning that resulted in hospital treatment. Participants were included if they had no further episodes for at least two years before interview.

Results We identified three recurrent themes: the resolution of adolescent distress; the recognition of the role of alcohol as a precipitating and maintaining factor in self harm; and the understanding of deliberate self harm as a symptom of untreated or unrecognised illness.

Conclusion Patients with a history of deliberate self harm who no longer harm themselves talk about their experiences in terms of lack of control over their lives, either through alcohol dependence, untreated depression, or, in adolescents, uncertainty within their family relationships. Hospital management of deliberate self harm has a role in the identification and treatment of depression and alcohol misuse, although in adolescents such interventions may be less appropriate.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Overcoming lack of control over life may avoid self harm
BMJ 2005 330: 0. [Full Text]

Deliberate self harm in adolescents: self report survey in schools in England

Keith Hawton, Karen Rodham, Emma Evans, and Rosamund Weatherall
BMJ 2002 325: 1207-1211. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Deliberate self harm: systematic review of efficacy of psychosocial and pharmacological treatments in preventing repetition

Keith Hawton, Ella Arensman, Ellen Townsend, Sandy Bremner, Eleanor Feldman, Robert Goldney, David Gunnell, Philip Hazell, Kees van Heeringen, Allan House, David Owens, Isaac Sakinofsky, and Lil Träskman-Bendz
BMJ 1998 317: 441-447. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Related external webpages:

Paper plus

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Oldershaw, A., Richards, C., Simic, M., Schmidt, U. (2008). Parents' perspectives on adolescent self-harm: qualitative study. Br. J. Psychiatry 193: 140-144 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Sinclair, J. M.A., Latifi, A. H., Latifi, A. W. (2008). Co-morbid substance misuse in psychiatric patients: prevalence and association with length of inpatient stay. J Psychopharmacol 22: 92-99 [Abstract]  
• Young, R., Van Beinum, M., Sweeting, H., West, P. (2007). Young people who self-harm. Br. J. Psychiatry 191: 44-49 [Abstract] [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

What about those who continue to self harm?

Jatinder P Babbar
bmj.com, 14 May 2005 [Full text]

Quantitative design for future study

Wen-Hung Kuo
bmj.com, 19 May 2005 [Full text]