Citation

AbuMadini MS, Rahim SIA. Arab J. Psychiatr. 2001; 12(2): 22-35.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Arab Federation of Psychiatrists)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Objective: To study the sociodemographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics of these subjects, and to discuss these features in a trans-cultural perspective. Method: Data were prospectively collected from consecutive DSH cases attending A+E at King Fahed Hospital of the University (KFHU) over a period of six years (1994-2000), using detailed structured questionnaires and add-on information on subsequent encounters. Results: DSH constituted 10.2 percent of A+E referrals to psychiatrists. A total of 362 subjects were studied. The male:femaleratio was l:I.8. The mean age was 26 years, median - 24 and mode 21 years; 74.3 % of all subjects were below 30 years. Nearly two thirds of the subjects received a diagnosis of either personality or adjustment disorder. The most frequent method was drug overdose (71.5 %) followed by self-cutting in 16.3%. Paracetamol was the most frequently ingested substance. Only 12.7% genuinely wished to die; the bulk were resorting to the act for other personal or interpersonal ends. Conclusion: DSH is fairly frequent in this culture. Like elsewhere, it seems, in most cases, to be a form of non-verbal communication of anger, discontent or agony in maladaptive personalities characterized by poor affect regulation, inadequate problem-solving skills and unhealthy background socio-environmental interactions. Controlled studies are needed to support these findings.

Language: en