Title: Deliberate Self harm in Alcohol Dependent Outpatients in Tertiary Care Centre
Authors: Padmini Cherukunnath, Arun M Palayat, Binoo Divakaran, Mohanchandran V V
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i4.52
Deliberate self harm (DSH) is a behavioral problem with significant clinical and public health importance. It is reported across several psychiatric illnesses like personality disorders, alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) and affective disorders. A hospital based cross-sectional study was carried out to find the incidence of DSH in outpatients with alcohol dependence syndrome, to learn about the methods used for DSH and to describe the association of DSH with psychiatric co-morbidity in the study population. Data was collected from 100 consecutive outpatients with ADS using structured socio-demographic Performa and semi-structured pre-validated DSH questionnaire. ADS and psychiatric co-morbidities were diagnosed by International Classification of Diseases Diagnostic criteria for research- Tenth Revision. (ICD-10 DCR) Incidence of DSH in them in 1 year was 25%. The commonest method of deliberate self-harm was consuming poison (76%). 84% had done DSH under intoxication.92% of them had stressful situation immediately before DSH. 48% had attempted DSH impulsively. 40% had past history of psychiatric disorder. 56% had past history of DSH. 56% had psychiatric co morbidities, of which Depressive disorders (39%) were the most common. 39% of patients with psychiatric co morbidity had past history of DSH. 16% with co morbid depressive disorder had attempted DSH in past 1 year. All patients presenting after deliberate self-harm need to be carefully screened for alcohol disorders and for co morbid psychiatric diagnoses. Abstaining from alcohol may be considered as a key to the resolution of deliberate self harm. Keywords: Deliberate Self-Harm, Alcohol Dependence Syndrome, Psychiatric Co Morbidity. 1. Hawton K, Catalan J. Attempted Suicide: A Practical Guide to its Nature and Management. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1987. 2. 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