[Self-harm done by young patients during their psychiatric hospitalization in relation to the presence of specific mental disorders and chosen environmental factors].

AIM: The objective of the study was to assess the relation between the occurrence of deliberate self-harm (DSH) in young patients during their psychiatric treatment and the presence of specific mental disorders, or the history of suicide attempts, the exposure to abuse and their family situation.

METHOD: The studied group consisted of 187 in-patients aged 13-19 years, hospitalized at the Adolescent Ward of the Central Clinical Hospital, Medical University of Łódź, during the 2 quarters on the turn of 2005 and 2006. All patients were examined psychiatrically, and on discharge they were also assessed with the "Questionnaire for the Assessment of Self-Harm" designed for the purpose of this study.

RESULTS

Forty-seven percent of the psychiatrically treated in-patients had performed DSH acts. A strong relationship (p < 0.001) was found between the occurrence of SH and the previous history of suicidal attempts, the presence of an alcohol problem in the family, the exposure to sexual and physical abuse and the lack of support from close family members.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no relation between the occurrence of deliberate self-harm in young in-patients and the presence of a specific psychiatric disorder.