[Planned hospitalization after deliberate self-harm].
BACKGROUND
Deliberate self-harm appears to be a common problem, especially among young people. In mental health care deliberate self-harm is often associated with emotionally unstable patients or with personality disorders of a more serious nature. Our department offers planned hospitalisation during 1-2 years for patients who deliberately and frequently harm themselves and often use psychiatric services.


METHODS
Chart journals for 9 patients were examined retrospectively for determination of long-term outcome. Rates of deliberate self-harm were selected into two categories, suicide attempts and self-mutilation. The number and type of inpatient hospitalisations and inpatient days were used to estimate the use of psychiatric services.


CONCLUSIONS
The rates of deliberate self-harm, use of psychiatric health services and especially use of acute psychiatric services were reduced after introduction of planned hospitalization. Planned hospitalisation may be useful for this group of patients, but the results of this study should be interpreted with care as they are based on a small retrospective study.
Torgersen
Terje
T
Psykiatrisk klinikk, Sykehuset Levanger, 7600 Levanger. terje.torgersen@hnt.no
Løvås
Elisabeth
E
Tofte
Tore
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome