Self‐Cutting: Patient Characteristics Compared with Self‐Poisoners

A large ( n = 14, 892) consecutive sample of deliberate self‐harm (attempted suicide) patients who presented to a general hospital in the United Kingdom during a 23‐year study period was examined (over two consecutive time periods) in order to compare the characteristics of those who used self‐cutting ( n = 428) and those who self‐poisoned ( n = 11, 065). Patients who used different methods on other occasions, or were not assessed by the psychiatric service, were excluded. In the first time period (January 1976—June 1988), the self‐cutters were distinguished from the self‐poisoners by more often being male, single, not employed, and having a history of previous deliberate self‐harm. In the second time period (July 1988—December 1998) the self‐cutters were again distinguished by more often being male and having a history of previous deliberate self‐harm, but also by being more likely to live alone, misuse alcohol, and have low suicidal intent scores. The finding ofan excess of males among the self‐cutters is contrary to the impression in the literature that self‐cutting presentations to general hospitals more often involve females. It also indicates that the treatment needs of those who deliberately cut themselves are likely to differ from those of self‐poisoners.