Deliberate self-harm in a Saudi University Hospital : a case series over six years (1994-2000)
Other Title(s)
دراسة حالات إيذاء النفس المتعمد
Joint Authors
Abd al-Rahim, Shaykh Idris
Abu Madini, Mahdi Said
Source
The Arab Journal of Psychiatry
Issue
Vol. 12, Issue 2 (30 Nov. 2001), pp.22-35, 14 p.
Publisher
The Arab Federation of Psychiatrists
Publication Date
2001-11-30
Country of Publication
Jordan
No. of Pages
14
Main Subjects
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
American Psychological Association (APA)
Abu Madini, Mahdi Said& Abd al-Rahim, Shaykh Idris. 2001. Deliberate self-harm in a Saudi University Hospital : a case series over six years (1994-2000). The Arab Journal of Psychiatry،Vol. 12, no. 2, pp.22-35.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-137245
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Abu Madini, Mahdi Said& Abd al-Rahim, Shaykh Idris. Deliberate self-harm in a Saudi University Hospital : a case series over six years (1994-2000). The Arab Journal of Psychiatry Vol. 12, no. 2 (Nov. 2001), pp.22-35.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-137245
American Medical Association (AMA)
Abu Madini, Mahdi Said& Abd al-Rahim, Shaykh Idris. Deliberate self-harm in a Saudi University Hospital : a case series over six years (1994-2000). The Arab Journal of Psychiatry. 2001. Vol. 12, no. 2, pp.22-35.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-137245
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references: p.32-35
Record ID
BIM-137245