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The British Journal of Psychiatry (2001) 178: 48-54
© 2001 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Psychiatric and personality disorders in deliberate self-harm patients

CAMILLA HAW, MRCPsych

St Andrew's Hospital, Northampton

KEITH HAWTON, DM, KELLY HOUSTON, BA and ELLEN TOWNSEND, PhD

Centre for Suicide Research, University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford

Correspondence: Professor Keith Hawton, Centre for Suicide Research, University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK. E-mail: keith. hawton{at}psychiatry.ox.ac.uk

Declaration of interest Supported by Anglia and Oxford NHS Executive Research and Development Committee.

Background Previous UK studies have reported much lower rates of psychiatric and personality disorder in those who attempt suicide than in those who die by suicide.

Aims To determine the nature and prevalence of psychiatric and personality disorders in deliberate self-harm (DSH) patients.

Method A representative sample of 150 DSH patients who presented to a general hospital were assessed using a structured clinical interview and a standardised instrument. Follow-up interviews were completed for 118 patients approximately 12-16 months later.

Results ICD-10 psychiatric disorders were diagnosed in 138 patients (92.0%), with comorbidity of psychiatric disorders in 46.7%. The most common diagnosis was affective disorder (72.0%). Personality disorder was identified in 45.9% of patients interviewed at follow-up. Comorbidity of psychiatric and personality disorder was present in 44.1%.

Conclusions Psychiatric and personality disorders, and their comorbidity, are common in DSH patients. This has important implications for assessment and management.




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