title: The prevalence of 22 self-harm behaviors in a consecutive sample of obstetrics/gynecology outpatients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While a number of previous studies have examined limited forms of self-harm behavior, such as suicidal ideation/attempts/completions, or one specific behavior such as cutting or burning oneself(most frequently in psychiatric populations), few studies have examined the lifetime prevalence of multiple self-harm behaviors in a single non-psychiatric population and no study has done so among obstetrics/gynecology outpatients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a cross-sectional consecutive sample of 370 women presenting to an obstetrics/gynecology outpatient clinic and a self-report survey methodology, we examined the lifetime prevalence of 22 self-harm behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this sample, the most frequently self-reported self-harm behaviors were: engaged in emotionally abusive relationships (24.7%), abused alcohol (22.0%), been promiscuous (21.0%), attempted suicide (18.3%), and tortured self with self-defeating thoughts (16.7%). Four of these preceding behaviors were also the most commonly reported 5 of 22 behaviors in 3 previous studies of self-harm behavior in different clinical populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that the most frequently reported lifetime self-harm behaviors are relatively common across various non-psychiatric clinical populations of adults, albeit in different proportions, with some exceptions (i.e., suicide attempts in the present sample).
authors: Wright State University School of Medicine, Ohio and Kettering Medical Center, Ohio, USA. Randy.sansone@khnetwork.org
authors: Randy A
authors: RA
authors: Sansone
authors: Joy
authors: J
authors: Chang
authors: Bryan
authors: B
authors: Jewell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital; D010045:Outpatients; D015995:Prevalence; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult