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The Recurrent Self‐Harm Patient
Author(s) -
Barnes Rosemary A.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1986.tb00726.x
Subject(s) - loneliness , harm , psychiatry , distress , medicine , mental health , clinical psychology , psychology , social psychology
A semistructured interview was used to collect information on a consecutive series of 163 self‐harm patients (suicide attempters); 65.8% of the patients had a history of previous self‐harm (repeaters). Male repeaters were more likely than men with no self‐harm history (first cases) to have left school before ninth grade, to have alcohol abuse problems, and to have family stress. Female repeaters were younger than first cases and reported more difficulties with sexual adjustment and loneliness. Repeaters were more likely to have contacted distress centers and to have had previous mental health contact, including psychiatric hospitalization. A 6‐month follow‐up indicated four suicides in the repeaters' group and none in the first cases' group. Repeaters appear to be much more dependent than first cases on professional care and to present a high short‐term risk for suicide.