Brief communication: differences between ethnic groups in demographic and clinical features of patients admitted and assessed after deliberate self-harm: a retrospective case-note study.
BACKGROUND
When compared to the United Kingdom general population, rates of deliberate self-harm (DSH) are increased among certain ethnic groups, particularly in those from the Indian diaspora.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate differences between ethnic groups in the demographic and clinical features of patients admitted after episodes of DSH and subsequently assessed by a nurse-led DSH liaison team.


METHODS
A retrospective case-note study (N = 297) with completion of a standardized data collection instrument. The ethnic origin of each patient was assessed by a variety of means.


RESULTS
Asian patients (n = 38) were more likely to be female (p = 0.043), married (p = 0.027), and cite problems with their partner (p = 0.017) as a precipitant to DSH. The indigenous group (n = 234) were more likely to have previous contact with psychiatric services (p = 0.023), to have used alcohol preceding DSH (p = 0.014), and to have a criminal record (p = 0.007).


CONCLUSIONS
In this population, the demographic and clinical features of patients assessed after DSH vary significantly with ethnic group. A case-control study is warranted to examine these differences in more detail.
Bhogal
Kuljit
K
Clinical Neuroscience Division, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, UK.
Baldwin
David
D
Hartland
Louise
L
Nair
Rajesh
R
D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003710:Demography; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires