Deliberate self-harm by burning: a retrospective case controlled study.
Thirty-seven referrals to a liaison psychiatry service after deliberate self-harm by burning were compared with a control group of people referred to the same service after deliberate self-harm by other means. We found that the group who self-harmed by burning were more likely to have psychotic symptoms, be prescribed psychotropic medication at the time of the self-burns and to be psychiatric inpatients at the time of self-harm compared with controls. The implications of the findings are discussed. The development of good communication and joint working between staff in psychiatry and burns units is particularly important to support the care of this group of patients.
Mulholland
Rosalind
R
Department of Psychological Medicine, South Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Centre, Central and North West London Mental Health Trust, London, England.
Green
Lucinda
L
Longstaff
Carlota
C
Horner
Ben
B
Ross
Elena
E
Myers
Simon
S
Catalan
Jose
J
D000328:Adult; D002053:Burn Units; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs