EVALUATION OF STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS AND SUICIDAL INTENT IN PATIENTS WITH DELIBERATE SELF HARM

Abstract

Background: Deliberate Self Harm (DSH) is a psychiatric emergency. Stressors in life, suicidal intent and social variables like marital status, family, and social support are among the many determinants of DSH and have shown to be strongly associated with suicide. Aim was Methodology to evaluate stressful life events and suicidal intent in those who attempted DSH. Sixty consecutive patients admitted with attempted suicide were interviewed. Deliberate Self Harm Inventory, Beck Suicidal Intent Scale and Presumptive Stressful Life Event Scale were used along with a semi structured proforma during interview. Data was analysed using appropriate statistical tests. The demographical mean age of the Results participants was 25.2 years and 63% of participants were females.71.1% of the patients had stressful life event score between 101 and 200. About 66.7% had medium intent and 88.3% participants had self harm through poisoning. Patients of a Conclusion ttempted suicide had medium suicidal intent and poisoning was the commonly preferred method of self harm. This study implies that suicide attempters should be specically looked for suicidal intent and their coping styles, so as to plan appropriate psychiatric therapy to prevent future suicide attempt.