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Minor Self‐Harm and Psychiatric Disorder: A Population‐Based Study
Author(s) -
Skegg Keren,
NadaRaja Shyamala,
Moffitt Terrie E.
Publication year - 2004
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 - 10.1521/suli.34.2.187.32790
Subject(s) - psychiatry , odds ratio , psychology , population , harm , clinical psychology , medicine , environmental health , social psychology , pathology
Little is known about the extent to which minor self‐harm in the general population is associated with psychiatric disorder. A population‐based sample of 980 young adults was interviewed independently about past‐year suicidal and self‐harm behavior and thoughts, and psychiatric disorders. Self‐harm included self‐harmful behaviors such as self‐battery as well as traditional methods of suicide (ICD [International Classification of Diseases] self‐harm). All with ICD self‐harm and most with other self‐harmful behavior met the criteria for DSM‐IV disorder. Suicidal/self‐harmful thoughts increased the odds for self‐harm, even in men without psychiatric disorder (odds ratio 4.9, 95% confidence interval 1.3 – 17.9). Young adults engaging in even minor self‐harm warrant screening for psychiatric disorder.