Deliberate self-harm in a Saudi University Hospital : a case series over six years (1994-2000)‎

Abstract EN

Background: A considerable number of predominantly young people are received at our Accident and Emergency (A&E) department following episodes of deliberate self-harm (DSH).

Objective: To study the sociodemographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics of these subjects, and to discuss these features in a trans-cultural perspective.

Method: Data were prospectively collected from consecutive DSH cases attending A&E at King Fahed Hospital of the University (KFHU) over a period of six years (1994-2000), using detailed structured questionnaires and add-on information on subsequent encounters.

Results: DSH constituted 10.2 percent of A&E referrals to psychiatrists.

A total of 362 subjects were studied.

The male:female ratio was 1:1.8.

The mean age was 26 years, median - 24 and mode 21 years; 74.3 % of all subjects were below 30 years.

Nearly two thirds of the subjects received a diagnosis of either personality or adjustment disorder.

The most frequent method was drug overdose (71.5 %) followed by self-cutting in 16.3%.

Paracetamol was the most frequently ingested substance.

Only 12.7% genuinely wished to die; the bulk were resorting to the act for other personal or interpersonal ends.

Conclusion: DSH is fairly frequent in this culture.

Like elsewhere, it seems, in most cases, to be a form of non-verbal communication of anger, discontent or agony in maladaptive personalities characterized by poor affect regulation, inadequate problem-solving skills and unhealthy background socio-environmental interactions.

Controlled studies are needed to support these findings