Abstract: The links between substance misuses, deliberate self-harm and crime have been well described in the literature. The aims of this study were:
(1)To describe the repetition, the methods and the feelings experienced before & after deliberate self-harm (DSH) episode in a sample of DTTO clients;
(2)To investigate the correlation between DSH and suicide & traumatic past experience in this group.
Methods: A consecutive series of 60 clients attending the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham (LSL) and Croydon DTTO services was recruited and assessed for DSH, using a self-report questionnaire. Relevant data for the study was obtained. The study employed standard logistic regression for testing the research hypotheses in order to achieve the objectives of the study.
Results: Thirty-nine subjects (65%) had a history of DSH, with the mean age of the first episode being 23 years (+/-6.5). The majority (72%) had harmed themselves in the past. Cutting & overdosing were the most common methods of DSH, occurring in 54% and 51% of the sample respectively. Head banging (15%), picking unhealed wounds (13%) and other methods (10%) were also described by the sample. The most common feeling experienced before these episodes of DSH was ‘emotional pain’ (described by 64% of the sample). ‘Regretfulness’ was the common feeling experience after an episode of DSH (in 41% of the sample). Alcohol and drugs were frequently implicated in the episodes and were perceived to have aggravated the DSH episodes in 80% of the sample.
Almost half of the DSH sample had previously made a suicide attempt and 82% had a past history of a traumatic experience. However, there were no statistical correlation between DSH and suicide & a traumatic past experience.
Conclusions: This pilot study of DSH in a DTTO sample is limited by the small sample size. However, very little research has been carried out in the DTTO setting and the findings point to themes that should be tested in larger samples. There was a trend for the recurrence of DSH act. Cutting & overdosing were the most common methods of DSH. No significant predictors for DSH were found with respect to suicide and a traumatic past experience.
Keyword: Deliberate Self-Harm (DSH), Methods, Feelings Experience, Suicide & Traumatic past experience.
Title: Deliberate Self–Harm in Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTO) Clients in London: Description and Correlation
Author: Samia Abul
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Research Publish Journals
