Citation

Wylie K, House A, Storer D, Raistrick D, Henderson M. J. Ment. Health Adm. 1996; 23(2): 246-252.

Affiliation

Community Mental Health Care Directorate, Whiteley Wood Clinic, Sheffield, Great Britain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Safe Periodicals Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10172623

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine management decisions made at the time of assessment of an episode of deliberate self-harm seen in the general hospital and examine the extent of referral to a specialized addiction unit. Factors involved in making a clinical decision regarding the appropriate management of self-harm cases when alcohol factors were identified are reviewed. Simply referring to a specialized addiction unit was found to be an unsatisfactory method of providing a comprehensive response to the problem of substance misuse and deliberate self-harm. It is suggested that services should be developed using active posthospital discharge community follow-up. Motivational interviewing used in such a setting may increase the number of patients who will go on to accept specialist care.

Language: en