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Patterns and predictors of self-harm in patients with substance-use disorder
Rishi Gupta1, Shubham Narnoli1, Nileshwar Das1
1Department of Psychiatry and National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Background:
Suicide is a growing health concern and causes significant health burden. Patients with substance use disorders represent an especially vulnerable population in terms of self-harm. Data on risk factors for self-harm in substance-using population in the Indian context are limited. We aimed to determine the patterns and sociodemographic/clinical predictors of self-harm in patients with substance use disorders.
Materials And Methods:
We assessed 300 male patients on Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory to assess the patterns of self-harm. We performed mediation analysis to determine whether clinical variables acted via sociodemographic variables in their effect on self-harm.
Results:
The occurrence rate of self-harm was 32.7%. It was significantly associated with a younger age, being unmarried/separated, unemployed, history of injecting drug use, high-risk sexual behavior, and cannabis use disorders.
Conclusion:
Self-harm is an important consideration among patients with substance use disorders, and needs to be addressed by the clinicians involved in the care of such patients.