title: Psychiatric Comorbidities in Patients with Deliberate Self-Harm in a Tertiary Care Center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deliberate self-harm (DSH) is one of the common psychiatric emergencies in medical practice. It has become a global health problem with rates increasing over time. Very few studies have been conducted on this important health issue in Nepal. We conducted a hospital based study to evaluate the cause, mode and psychiatric comorbidities present in patients of DSH.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross sectional study was performed on 200 cases of deliberate self-harm in a tertiary referral centre in Eastern Nepal from April 2012 to July 2012 by the data collected from the medical records of these patients. Various sociodemographic data and psychiatric comorbidities prevalent in them were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the patients (77%) were below the age of 35. The female-to-male ratio was 1.35:1. 76% of the patients had received formal education. Majority (73.5%) were married. By occupation, 38% were housewives and 25.5% were students. 72.5% of cases had consumed organophosphates/-chlorides. Interpersonal conflict (72%) was the major cause for DSH. Psychiatric disorders according to ICD-10 criteria were found in 37% of cases and premorbid personality problems were found in 20% of cases. The most prevalent psychiatric disorder was adjustment disorder (13.5%) followed by mood disorder (11%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Majority of DSH cases were of younger generation. Psychiatric disorders and comorbid personality problems were commonly seen in DSH patients. This has significance for proper evaluation and management.
authors.affiliation: B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
authors.forename: Subash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghimire
authors.affiliation: B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
authors.forename: Sagar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Devkota
authors.affiliation: B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
authors.forename: Rasmita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Budhathoki
authors.affiliation: B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
authors.forename: Nidesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sapkota
authors.affiliation: B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
authors.forename: Akhilesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thakur
mesh_terms: D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D054541:Family Conflict; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D062025:Organophosphate Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012067:Religion; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: deliberate self-harm; organophosphorous; para suicide; psychiatric co-morbidities.