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Self-injury attendances in the accident and emergency department

Clinical database study

Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Services, University of Leeds, Leeds

SALLY PRICE, MBChB

Department of Anaesthesia, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull

ALLAN HOUSE, DM

Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

DAVID OWENS, MD

Correspondence: Allan House, Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Leeds,15 Hyde Terrace, Leeds LS2 9LT,UK

Declaration of interest J.H.’s salary was paid for by the mental health charity Leeds MIND from a research grant awarded by the UK National Lottery Charities Board and from a research grant awarded by Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust.

Background Self-injury is a neglected area of self-harm research and we know little about its epidemiology, hospital care and outcome.

Aims To provide epidemiological data on self-injury and compare hospital management of self-injury with that for self-poisoning.

Method Data were collected on all self-harm attendances to the general hospitals in Leeds over an 18-month period.

Results People attending hospital for self-injury or self-poisoning do not form mutually exclusive groups. There were higher proportions of self-injury episodes compared with self-poisoning, where a history of self-harm or contact with mental health services had been recorded. Fewer psychosocial assessments were carried out after episodes of self-injury compared with self-poisoning but, when they were, follow-up was recommended more often.

Conclusions The clinical importance of self-injury is not mirrored by the level of psychosocial assessment and after-care provided.

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