title: Self-harm in first-episode psychosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about self-harm occurring during the period of untreated first-episode psychosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish the prevalence, nature, motivation and risk factors for self-harm occurring during the untreated phase of first-episode psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of the AESOP (Aetiology and Ethnicity in Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses) study, episodes of self-harm were identified among all incident cases of psychosis presenting to services in south-east London and Nottingham over a 2-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 496 participants, 56 (11.3%) had engaged in self-harm between the onset of psychotic symptoms and first presentation to services. The independent correlates of self-harm were: male gender, belonging to social class I/II, depression and a prolonged period of untreated psychosis. Increased insight was also associated with risk of self-harm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-harm is common during the pre-treatment phase of first-episode psychosis. A unique set of fixed and malleable risk factors appear to operate in those with first-episode psychosis. Reducing treatment delay and modifying disease attitudes may be key targets for suicide prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Weston Education Centre, 10 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RJ, UK. s.harvey@iop.kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Samuel B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Kimberlie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Arsime
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demjaha
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dazzan
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Tuhina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fearon
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class