A cross-sectional study of the pattern of cases of deliberate self-harm in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Objective of the Study: To study the different methods used for DSH and precipitating factors Materials and Method: The present study was conducted in the department of emergency medicine in St John’s Hospital, Bengaluru. 337 individuals who were brought to the emergency department with an alleged history of DSH and were stable after medical management were selected for the study. Subjects were assessed using the structured questionnaire and a thorough history. Group differences for categorical variables were examined with fissure exact test. Results: Analysis revealed that 60.5% of DSH cases were in the age group of 18-30 years, 54.3% were females, 37.7% of family problems, 42.1% preferred drug over dosage, 10.7% in February and17.8% on Mondays. Interpretation & Conclusion: Young adults were the most vulnerable group. Singles outnumbered all others. Nuclear family and urbanization proved to be risk factors. Most of them attempted DSH because of family problems and most attempted at home. Drug overdose was the most preferred method.