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Self-injury attendances in the accident and emergency department: Clinical database study
Judith Horrocks1, Sally Price, Allan House
1Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Services, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Background:
Self-injury is a neglected area of self-harm research and we know little about its epidemiology, hospital care and outcome. Aims To provide epidemiological data on self-injury and compare hospital management of self-injury with that for self-poisoning.
Method:
Data were collected on all self-harm attendances to the general hospitals in Leeds over an 18-month period.
Results:
People attending hospital for self-injury or self-poisoning do not form mutually exclusive groups. There were higher proportions of self-injury episodes compared with self-poisoning, where a history of self-harm or contact with mental health services had been recorded. Fewer psychosocial assessments were carried out after episodes of self-injury compared with self-poisoning but, when they were, follow-up was recommended more often.
Conclusions:
The clinical importance of self-injury is not mirrored by the level of psychosocial assessment and after-care provided.