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Related Experiment Videos

Minor self-harm and psychiatric disorder: a population-based study.

Keren Skegg1, Shyamala Nada-Raja, Terrie E Moffitt

  • 1Department of Psychological Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Keren.Skegg@stonebow.otago.ac.nz

Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior
|June 12, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Even minor self-harm in young adults may indicate underlying psychiatric disorders. Screening for mental health conditions is recommended for those engaging in self-harmful behaviors.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Limited understanding of the association between minor self-harm and psychiatric disorders in the general population.
  • Self-harm encompasses a range of behaviors, including self-battery and traditional suicidal methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and association of minor self-harm behaviors with psychiatric disorders in a young adult population.
  • To determine if suicidal/self-harmful thoughts increase the likelihood of self-harm, even in individuals without diagnosed psychiatric conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Population-based survey of 980 young adults.
  • Independent interviews assessing past-year suicidal and self-harm behavior, thoughts, and psychiatric disorders.
  • Utilized criteria from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV).

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Main Results:

  • All participants with ICD self-harm and the majority with other self-harmful behaviors met DSM-IV disorder criteria.
  • Suicidal and self-harmful thoughts significantly increased the odds of self-harm (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.3-17.9), even in men without psychiatric disorders.
  • Findings suggest a strong link between self-harm behaviors and the presence of psychiatric disorders.

Conclusions:

  • Young adults exhibiting any level of self-harm behavior should be screened for psychiatric disorders.
  • Early identification and intervention for self-harm are crucial for addressing potential underlying mental health conditions.
  • The study highlights the importance of considering self-harm as a potential indicator of psychiatric distress in public health initiatives.