A specialist adolescent self-harm service.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the scale of adolescent deliberate self-harm (DSH) presentations to accident and emergency (A&E) departments and minor injury units in Glasgow and to assess the success of the adolescent DSH service in accessing this group.


METHODS
A retrospective case note analysis was carried out in collaboration with the Greater Glasgow Health Board, using a standardised proforma. The data collection focused on adolescents aged 12-17 years presenting with DSH during a ten-week period in 2002. The records of each presentation to A&E departments and minor injury units were examined, and follow-up medical records were obtained for those who had been admitted to a ward.


RESULTS
There were 86 recorded presentations of adolescent DSH during the study period. No significant relationships between age, sex, form of self-harm or any other variable recorded were found. Over half of those presenting were admitted to a ward, the majority of whom were subsequently referred to the DSH service. Those treated solely in A&E tended not to be referred.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the study show that there are a significant number of young people who self-harm, but that they receive no follow-up care.
McAlaney
John
J
University of Paisley, Paisley.
Fyfe
Margo
M
Dale
Maria
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000359:Aftercare / Q000458:organization & administration; D002648:Child; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration