TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2011//
TI  - Risk factors for self-harm in children and adolescents admitted to a mental health inpatient unit
JO  - Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry
A1  - de Kloet, Liselotte
A1  - Starling, Jean
A1  - Hainsworth, Cassandra
A1  - Berntsen, Ellen
A1  - Chapman, Lucy
A1  - Hancock, Karen
SP  - 749
EP  - 755
VL  - 45
IS  - 9
N2  - Objective: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for self-harm for children and adolescents in a mental health inpatient unit. Methods: A retrospective file audit of patient files over three years (2006-2009) was conducted to determine risk factors associated with self-harm in children and adolescents admitted to a mental health unit. A checklist of potential factors was based on risk factors found in a review of the literature including demographic information, diagnosis, home situation, environmental stressors, childhood trauma and previous mental health care. The study compared those who self-harmed with a control group who did not self-harm. Results: There were 150 patients who self-harmed (mean age 14 years) and 56 patients who did not self-harm with a mean age of 13 years. Several factors were identified that increased the likelihood of self-harm, including a diagnosis of depression, female gender, increasing age, being Australian-born, living with a step parent, not having received previous mental health care, having a history of trauma, and having other stressors including problems within the family. Conclusions: While increasing age, female gender, a history of trauma and a diagnosis of depression are well known as risk factors for self-harm, this study confirms that family factors, in particular living with a step parent, significantly add to the risk. Child and adolescent services should be aware of the increased risk of self-harm in young people with mental health problems who live in blended families. Treatment approaches need to involve parents as well as the child or young person.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0004-8674
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00048674.2011.595682
ID  - ref1
ER  -