TY - JOUR PY - 2017// TI - Association between deliberate self-harm and violent criminality JO - JAMA Psychiatry A1 - Sahlin, Hanna A1 - Kuja-Halkola, Ralf A1 - Bjureberg, Johan A1 - Lichtenstein, Paul A1 - Molero, Yasmina A1 - Rydell, Mina A1 - Hedman, Erik A1 - Runeson, Bo A1 - Jokinen, Jussi A1 - Ljótsson, Brjánn A1 - Hellner, Clara SP - 615 EP - 621 VL - 74 IS - 6 N2 - Importance: Individuals who self-harm may have an increased risk of aggression toward others, but this association has been insufficiently investigated. More conclusive evidence may affect assessment, treatment interventions, and clinical guidelines. Objective: To investigate the association between nonfatal self-harm and violent crime. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based longitudinal cohort study, conducted from January 1, 1997, through December 31, 2013, studied all Swedish citizens born between 1982 and 1998 who were 15 years and older (N = 1 850 252). Individuals who emigrated from Sweden before the age of 15 years (n = 104 051) or immigrated to Sweden after the age of 13 years (ie, <2 years before the beginning of the follow-up; n = 22 009) were excluded. Data analysis was performed from April 21, 2016, to June 4, 2016. Exposures: Receipt of self-harm-associated clinical care. Main Outcomes and Measures: Conviction of a violent crime according to the Swedish penal code. Results: The study cohort consisted of 1 850 525 individuals (950 382 males and 900 143 females), and the mean (SD) follow-up time was 8.1 (4.7) years (range, 0-17.0 years; minimum age, 15 years; maximum age, 32 years). During a mean follow-up period of 8.1 years, 55 185 individuals (3.0%) received clinical care for self-harm. The crude hazard ratio was 4.9 (95% CI, 4.8-5.0) for violent crime conviction in exposed individuals compared with the unexposed group. Women who self-harm were at particularly high risk for expressing violent behaviors. After adjustment for relevant psychiatric comorbidities and socioeconomic status, an almost doubled hazard of violent offense remained (hazard ratio, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.8-1.9). Conclusions and Relevance: Self-harm is associated with an increased risk of conviction for a violent offense in both sexes. The risk of violence, as well as the risk of suicide and self-harm, should be assessed among offending and self-harming individuals.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 2168-622X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0338 ID - ref1 ER -