Interventions to reduce self-harm on in-patient wards: systematic review

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Self-harm incidents are prevalent in psychiatric inpatient settings.
• Existing interventions lack a consensus for effective management.
• There is a need to identify optimal strategies for reducing inpatient self-harm.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review interventions aimed at reducing self-harm and suicide attempts.
• To evaluate therapeutic and organizational approaches in adolescent and adult psychiatric wards.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed using PsycINFO and Medline.
• The search covered the period from March 2019 to January 2021.
• Twenty-three studies were included in the full review.

Main Results:

• Interventions were categorized into individual therapeutic and organizational strategies.
• Dialectical behavior therapy was the most effective therapeutic intervention.
• Combined therapeutic and ward-based approaches showed significant reductions in self-harm.

Conclusions:

• Several interventions show potential for reducing inpatient self-harm.
• The current evidence base is weak, precluding specific recommendations.
• Further research is essential to establish robust evidence for effective interventions.