Citation

Howson S, Huline-Dickens S. BJPsych Adv. 2016; 22(5): 287-291.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Royal College of Psychiatrists)

DOI

10.1192/apt.22.5.287

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

As in adults, self-harm in children and young people is common. It results in much distress to families and carers, and considerable morbidity among children and young people. Although much more common than completed suicide, it is strongly linked to repeated self-harm and suicide. The conclusions in this review are limited by the small number of studies included, no studies of pharmacological interventions at all and most of the included interventions being evaluated in a single study. One moderately sized study of mentalisation in adolescents with comorbid depression showed a significant effect on scores on a self-harm measure, indicating fewer self-reported episodes of self-harm. No other intervention showed a significant reduction in reported self-harm, although trials may have been too small to show statistical significance.

Language: en