Correlates of self-harm behaviour in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared acutely ill patients with schizophrenia with a history of self-harm (N=17) to those without a history of self-harm (N=16) on measures of depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and demographic and psychiatric variables. A subgroup of these patients who experience auditory hallucinations, with and without a history of self-harm, were selected and compared on measures of depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation and beliefs about voices.


METHODS
Employing a cross-sectional design, in-patients of two local psychiatric hospital, who met DSM-IV-TR criteria for schizophrenia and who were in an acute phase of the illness, were selected.


METHODS
Each patient was assessed using the Beck Depressions Inventory (BDI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and the Beck Suicide Scale (BSS). Patients who experienced auditory verbal hallucinations completed the Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire Revised (BAVQ-R). Patients with a history of self-harm completed the Beck Suicide Intent Scale (BSI).


RESULTS
Patients with a history of self-harm (N=17) had significantly greater symptoms of depression, greater suicidal thoughts, increased number of hospital admissions, greater duration of illness and were more likely to be married, compared to patients without a history of self-harm (N=16). Among the subgroup of patients who experience auditory hallucinations, those with a history of self-harm (N=9), believed their voice to be more malevolent, had a tendency to resist their voice and experienced significantly greater symptoms of depression and hopelessness compared to those without a history of self-harm (N=6).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings highlight the importance for screening by clinicians during inpatient hospital stays and for monitoring to be ongoing following discharge. For the subgroup of patients who experience auditory hallucinations, future research should seek to explore the relationship between self-harm and beliefs about voices.
Simms
Jane
J
School of Psychology, University of Ulster, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK. jane.simms2@ntlworld.com
McCormack
Vinny
V
Anderson
Richard
R
Mulholland
Ciaran
C
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology