PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITIES AMONG DELIBERATE SELF-HARM ATTEMPTERS, IN EMERGENGY SETTINGS, IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL OF KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL

Abstract

Introduction: Deliberate self-harm, including suicide attempt, is a potentially self- injurious behaviour, for which there is proof, that the individual, either implicitly or explicitly, has intention of self-killing. Aims: To assess the lethality of the deliberate self-harm attempts; also, to assess the risk of death and likelihood of rescue, of the attempts and to nd out if there is an association between such morbidities, and the lethality of attempt and likelihood of rescue. Material And Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical, quantitative, hospital-based study was conducted at KPC Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. 182 patients of deliberate self-harm, who fullled the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were randomly selected by computer using a predetermined random number generated from computer. Result: The method of DSH attempt in male & female sexes. It is seen that in the 'cutting' method, 54.4% are males; in ingestion of oral agents, majority (62.2%) are females; in the hanging/ asphyxiation' method, 51.4% are males. Conclusion: The study found that, majority of the DSH attempters were females, young (median age being in the early 30s), Hindu, educated up to class 10, housewives followed by employed subjects, and married. Majority of the patients did not have a past history, or a family history of DSH attempt. The method of DSH attempt used by majority was ingestion of oral agents, followed by cutting, followed by hanging