Citation

Sansone RA, Chang J, Jewell B. Int. J. Psychiatry Med. 2012; 43(2): 179-187.

Affiliation

Wright State University School of Medicine, Ohio and Kettering Medical Center, Ohio, USA. Randy.sansone@khnetwork.org

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

22849039

Abstract

BACKGROUND: While a number of previous studies have examined limited forms of self-harm behavior, such as suicidal ideation/attempts/completions, or one specific behavior such as cutting or burning oneself(most frequently in psychiatric populations), few studies have examined the lifetime prevalence of multiple self-harm behaviors in a single non-psychiatric population and no study has done so among obstetrics/gynecology outpatients. METHOD: Using a cross-sectional consecutive sample of 370 women presenting to an obstetrics/gynecology outpatient clinic and a self-report survey methodology, we examined the lifetime prevalence of 22 self-harm behaviors. RESULTS: In this sample, the most frequently self-reported self-harm behaviors were: engaged in emotionally abusive relationships (24.7%), abused alcohol (22.0%), been promiscuous (21.0%), attempted suicide (18.3%), and tortured self with self-defeating thoughts (16.7%). Four of these preceding behaviors were also the most commonly reported 5 of 22 behaviors in 3 previous studies of self-harm behavior in different clinical populations. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that the most frequently reported lifetime self-harm behaviors are relatively common across various non-psychiatric clinical populations of adults, albeit in different proportions, with some exceptions (i.e., suicide attempts in the present sample).

Language: en