Citation

Holden R, Stables I, Brown P, Fotiadou M. BJPsych Bull 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Royal College of Psychiatrists)

DOI

10.1192/bjb.2021.34

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

AIMS AND METHOD: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among patients in a female forensic psychiatric in-patient medium-secure unit, and to analyse the link between ACEs, adulthood self-harm and associated comorbidities and risk factors. The study used a cross-sectional design, with data gathered from the anonymised electronic health records of patients.

RESULTS: It was found that there was a high prevalence of both ACEs and self-harm among this patient group, and that there was a relationship between the two; those with more ACEs were more likely to have self-harmed during adulthood. Of the individual ACE categories, it was also demonstrated that emotional abuse had a significant association with adulthood self-harm. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In medium-secure settings for women, implementation of trauma-informed care will be beneficial because of the high number of those with mental disorders who have experienced adversity during their childhood.

Language: en

Keywords

Trauma; self-harm; adverse childhood experiences; forensic mental health services; in-patient treatment