Risk Of Deliberate Self-harm Research Articles

Risk factors for Deliberate Self Harm in Bipolar Affective Disorder patients presenting to Tertiary care center- A cross-sectional study

Abstract:-
 Background: Deliberate Self Harm (DSH) is a complex event, associated with psychosomatic, biological, social factors and psychiatric disorders. Current literature shows that, there is rise in DSH in psychiatric disorders and it has been recognised as major public health problem in India. So, objective of this study was to assess the underlying risk factors for DSH in patients with Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD).
 Methods:
 This cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 patients diagnosed with BPAD as per International Classification of Diseases; tenth revision (ICD-10). Semi-structured socio-demographic proforma was used to record basic profile. Deliberate self harm inventory (DSHI) was administered to assess the type of DSH. Young Mania Rating scale and Beck Depression Inventory were used to assess severity of symptoms.
 Results:
 Prevalence of DSH in present study was 33%. In socio-demographic profile, younger age group, lower education levels and being single were significant risk factors for DSH (p- value <.001, .016 and <.001 respectively) and among clinical variables, early years of disorder, severe mania, moderate and severe depressive episode in presence of medium to high suicidal intent, family history of mood disorders and co-morbid substance use and medical disorder were significant risk factors for DSH in BPAD with statistical significance (p<.0001).
 Conclusion:
 DSH is considered to be the significant predictor of suicide. BPAD is associated with high risk of DSH, which can be present in either depressive or manic episode. Patients with BPAD in early years of illness, should be evaluated thoroughly for risk factors, so that DSH risk can be minimised

Correlates of deliberate self-harm among youth with bipolar disorder

ObjectiveYouth with bipolar disorder (BD) are at high risk for deliberate self-harm (DSH) and suicide. However, research regarding factors associated with DSH, a key suicide risk factor, among youth with BD is limited. In a population-based sample of youth with BD, we therefore investigated associations between demographic, clinical, and service utilization factors and DSH incidence and compared suicide, unintentional injury, and all-cause mortality to the general population. MethodWe analyzed a retrospective cohort of youth aged 5 to 19 years with a new BD episode between 2010 and 2017 (n = 25,244) using Ohio Medicaid claims and death certificate data. Cox proportional hazards models examined associations between different factors and DSH. Mortality rates were compared to the general population using standardized mortality ratios. ResultsDuring follow-up, 1,517 (6.0%) youth had at least one DSH event. Older index age, female sex, comorbid psychiatric/medical conditions, prior DSH/suicidal ideation, and prior ER mental healthcare were associated with increased DSH risk. Prior DSH was most strongly associated with increased DSH risk for 3 months after a new BD episode. Being non-Hispanic Black (vs. White, non-Hispanic) and prior psychiatric hospitalization were associated with decreased DSH hazard. DSH risk was highest for 3 months after a new BD episode. Suicide, unintentional injury, and all-cause mortality rates were elevated in youth with BD. LimitationsMay not generalize to other states or non-Medicaid populations; claims data cannot distinguish suicidal intent of self-harm ConclusionEarly intervention following a new BD episode, particularly among high-risk groups, is key to prevent DSH.

A cross-sectional study of frequency, type, and lethality of deliberate self-harm in bipolar affective disorder patients presenting to tertiary care center

Introduction: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) is one of the leading causes of death and a major public health problem worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, DSH has increased by 60% over the past 50 years, of which 90% of victims had a psychiatric disorder. Aims and Objectives: The aim is to analyze the frequency, type, and lethality of DSH in bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) patients. Materials and Methods: This study included 150 patients diagnosed to have BPAD. Specially designed sociodemographic pro forma was used to record basic profile. DSH inventory was administered on BPAD patients who presented with DSH to analyze the type and lethality. Diagnosis of BPAD was made according to the International Classification of Diseases, tenth revision. Data were recorded, compiled, and analyzed using frequency and percentage with the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0. Results: The frequency of DSH was found to be 33%, out of which 38 (35%) patients had manic episode and 11 (30%) patients had depressive episode. The most common type of DSH was found to be cutting self with sharp or blunt objects and consumption of poison with frequency of 12 (24.5%) each. The second most common DSH was banging head, which was present in (11) 22.4% of patients. Conclusion: BPAD is associated with increased risk of DSH compared to the general population. The most common type of DSH was cutting self with sharp objects followed by consumption of poison. Patients who presented with DSH in depressive episode and severe mania had more lethal modes of DSH.

Risk Factors for Deliberate Self-harm and Suicide Among Adolescents and Young Adults With First-Episode Psychosis.

Little is known about the risk factors for deliberate self-harm (DSH) and suicide among adolescents and young adults with first episode psychosis (FEP) and the longitudinal course of DSH following the initial onset of illness. This study identifies risk factors for DSH and suicide death among Medicaid-covered adolescents and young adults with FEP along with the periods of greatest risk for DSH after diagnosis. A retrospective longitudinal cohort analysis was performed using Medicaid claims data merged with death certificate data for 19 422 adolescents and young adults (aged 15-24 years) diagnosed with the onset of FEP between 2010 and 2017. DSH per 1000 person-years and standardized mortality rates for suicide were determined. Hazard ratios of DSH and suicide were estimated by Cox proportional hazard models. During follow-up, 2148 (11.1%) individuals had at least one self-harm event and 22 (0.1%) died by suicide. The hazards of DSH were significantly higher for those with a previous DSH, suicidal ideation, child abuse and neglect, comorbid medical and psychiatric diagnoses, and prior mental health care. The median follow-up time for those who had DSH was 208.0 days (SD: 526.5 days) in adolescents and 108.0 days (SD: 340.0 days) in young adults. Risk of DSH was highest in the first 3 months following FEP. Individuals with FEP are at high risk for self-harm and suicidal behavior, and recognition of who among these individuals and when following illness onset they are at greatest risk may guide more precise clinical recognition and intervention.

Clinical Correlates of Deliberate Self-Harm Among Migrant Trauma-Affected Subgroups.

Introduction: Studies have shown that exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) during the migration process has serious consequences on mental health. Migrants with a history of PTEs are more likely to inflict deliberate self-harm (DSH), a spectrum of behavior that includes non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). With reference to a nonclinical sample of trauma-exposed migrants, this study aims to explore the prevalence of DSH and to assess the association with sociodemographic characteristics and clinical conditions, with particular attention to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, resilience capabilities, and feelings of hopelessness.Methods: A sample of migrants underwent a baseline evaluation at an outpatient department of the National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP). Migrants with a history of torture, rape, or other severe forms of psychological, physical, or sexual violence were invited to undergo screening at the Institute's Mental Health Unit. Trauma-exposed migrants completed a series of self-report questionnaires that assessed the presence of PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, resilience, and feelings of hopelessness, in addition to DSH. Univariate and multivariate log-binomial regression models were used to test the association of age and clinical characteristic of migrants with DSH. Prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and p-values were estimated.Results: A total of 169 migrants (76.9% males), aged between 18 and 68 years, M = 28.93; SD = 8.77), were selected. Of the sample, 26.6% were frequently engaging in some form of DSH, and 30.2% were diagnosed with at least one trauma-related disorder. DSH behaviors were most common in single and unemployed migrants as well as in subjects with post-traumatic stress symptoms, feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, low capability of resilience, and suicidal ideation. Taking into account age and hopelessness, we found that PTSD and low resilience capabilities were associated with a higher risk of DSH [PR adj: 2.21; 95% CI: (1.30–3.75) and PR adj: 2.32; 95% CI: (1.16–4.62), respectively].Conclusion: Given the association between trauma exposure and DSH among migrants, exploring the presence of DSH behavior within the immigrant community is crucial for the implementation of measures to develop intervention in a clinical setting.

Deliberate self-harm and associated risk factors in young adults: the importance of education attainment and sick leave

PurposeThe prevalence of deliberate self-harm (DSH) is high in young adults. However, few studies have examined risk in this specific age group. We, therefore, examined the relative influence and interactive nature of a wide range of potential sociodemographic and sick leave related risk factors in young adults, aged 18–35 years, using Norwegian register data.MethodsAll subjects with at least one episode of hospital presentation for DSH registered in the Norwegian Patient Register during the period 2008–2013 were compared with age, gender and date matched population controls using a nested case–control design. The relative influence of factors and their interactions were assessed using conditional logistic regression and recursive partitioning models.Results9 873 study cases were compared to 186 092 controls. Socioeconomic status, marital status, sick leave and several demographic factors influenced risk for DSH. Specifically, low education (OR 7.44, 95% CI 6.82–8.12), current sick leave due to psychiatric disorders (OR 18.25, 95% CI 14.97–22.25) and being previously married (OR 3.83, 95% CI 3.37–4.36) showed the highest effect sizes. Importantly, there was an interaction between education and sick leave, where those with either low education and no sick leave (OR 13.33, 95% CI 11.66–15.23) or high education and sick leave (OR 18. 87, 95% CI 17.41–24.21) were the subgroups at highest risk.ConclusionDSH in young adults is associated with multiple sociodemographic and health disadvantages. Importantly, the two high-risk subgroups imply different pathways of risk and a need for differentiated preventative efforts.

Social media use and deliberate self-harm among youth: A systematized narrative review

BackgroundSuicide is now the 2nd leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults. Social media’s influence on youth suicidal risk or attenuation of risk is a novel and rapidly expanding topic of research that requires attention from a broad range of mental health services professionals. We aimed to provide an updated review of social media-related risk and protective factors to youth deliberate-self harm (DSH) to guide mental health services professionals in offering care and support to youth vulnerable to suicide. MethodsStudies on which primary research was conducted that evaluated young people’s use of social media platforms related to DSH were systematically searched via Scopus and identified through expert recommendation and the Association for Computing Machinery’s digital library of conference materials. The search focused on the timeframe June 2014 to September 2019, to offer an update since the time the most recent systematic reviews on this topic concluded their literatures searches. Quality was reviewed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). ResultsA total of 38 articles were eligible, and 24 articles rated as high quality were included in a narrative review. Of the included articles, 19 explored DSH risk and 8 explored DSH protection. Most articles reported on cross-sectional quantitative or qualitative studies. Opportunities for both risks and benefits were explored, and potential influences of social media use were considered for subgroups of youth who may be especially vulnerable to suicide. ConclusionsIn the relatively short period of review, the association between social media use and youth DSH was tested in population-based studies, offering preliminary evidence for suicide prevention and treatment efforts. Further research is needed to understand the contribution of social media use to youth DSH, particularly among youth most vulnerable to suicidal risk.

The risk of deliberate self-harm following a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis: A population-based cohort study.

ObjectiveRheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are associated with mental illness. The risk of serious mental illness, including deliberate self-harm (DSH), in these conditions is not well known. We aimed to determine if RA or AS independently increases the risk for DSH.MethodsWe conducted retrospective, population-based cohort studies using administrative health data for the province of Ontario, Canada between April 1, 2002 and March 31, 2014. Individuals with incident RA (N = 53,240) or AS (N = 13,964) were separately matched 1:4 by age, sex, and year with comparators without RA or AS. The outcome was a first DSH attempt identified using emergency department data. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for risk of DSH in RA and AS versus comparators, adjusting for demographic, clinical and health service utilization variables.ResultsSubjects with AS were significantly more likely to self-harm (crude incidence rate [IR] of 0.68/1,000 person years [PY] versus 0.32/1,000 PY in comparators), with an adjusted HR of 1.59 (95% CI 1.15 to 2.21). DSH was increased for RA subjects (IR 0.35/1,000 PY) versus comparators (IR 0.24/1,000 PY) only before (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.74), but not after covariate adjustment (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.33).ConclusionsAS carries an increased risk for DSH but no such risk was observed in RA. Further evaluation of at-risk AS subjects is needed, including the longitudinal effects of disease and arthritis therapies on self-harm behaviour. This will inform whether specific risk-reduction strategies for DSH in inflammatory arthritis are needed.

Sexual orientation, attraction and risk for deliberate self-harm: Findings from a nationally representative sample

To date, there has been limited investigation identifying predictors of deliberate self-harm (DSH) among sexual minority adults. The present study examined the likelihood of DSH by sexual minority status as measured by self-reported sexual identity and sexual attraction in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Among respondents who answered both the sexual identity and attraction items on the NESARC (N = 34,273), the link between sexual minority status and DSH was examined. Univariate analyses yielded greater risk of DSH for all sexual minority identities compared to heterosexual identity. Individuals with same-sex only attraction did not differ from those with different-sex only attraction. At the multivariate level, respondents reporting bisexual and unsure identity and bisexual attraction were at two to three times greater risk of DSH compared to their heterosexual/different-sex counterparts. Same-sex attracted and gay/lesbian individuals did not differ from different-sex attracted or heterosexual individuals in adjusted multivariate models. Findings from this nationally representative sample are consistent with previous research suggesting that sexual minority status is a risk factor for DSH. There is a vital need to incorporate varying measures of sexual minority status within research and in clinics, as well as to inquire about DSH among sexual minorities.

Deliberate Self-Harm Among Chinese Children with Different Types and Severity of Disabilities.

Background: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of deliberate self-harm (DSH) and to compare the risk of self-harm in Chinese children with different types and severity of disabilities. Methods: Participants were 1300 children aged 6–17 years in Beijing, China; 650 children with disabilities and 650 healthy peers matched on age, gender and residence district. Questionnaires were completed anonymously by parents or children if the age or disability made it necessary. The associations between the disability type, severity and DSH were examined using the Chi-square testing and logistic regression models. Results: Children with a single disability or multiple disabilities had statistically higher rates of DSH than children without disabilities (15.6% and 39.7% compared to 10.9%). The prevalence of DSH was associated with the severity of disability, being 36.2% among children with level 1 (the most severe) disability, 19.8% among children with level 2 disability, and 9.2% among children with level 3 + 4 disability. The multivariable odds ratio (OR) of DSH among children with any disability was statistically higher than that among children without a disability (OR = 2.40; 95% CI = 1.71, 3.36; p < 0.05). Children with multiple disabilities (OR = 6.89; 95% CI: 4.24–11.20) and level 1 severity of disability (OR = 6.11; 95% CI: 3.91–9.56) had the highest risk of DSH. Conclusions: This study clearly demonstrated associations between the severity and type of disability and DSH. This finding highlights the importance of DSH in children with disabilities, and underlines the importance of the prevention of DSH among a vulnerable pediatric population in China.

The pervasive effects of timing of parental mental health disorders on adolescent deliberate self-harm risk.

Children whose parents have mental health disorders are at increased risk for deliberate self-harm (DSH). However, the effect of timing of parental mental health disorders on adolescent DSH risk remains under-researched. The aim of this study was to investigate how parental hospital admissions for mental health disorders and/or DSH in different developmental periods impact on the child’s DSH risk in adolescence. A nested case-control sample was compiled from a total population cohort sample drawn from administrative health records in Western Australia. The sample comprised 7,151 adolescents who had a DSH-related hospital admission (cases), and 143,020 matched controls who hadn’t had a DSH-related hospital admission. The occurrence of parental hospital admissions related to mental health disorders and/or DSH behaviours was then analysed for the cases and controls. The timing of the parental hospital admissions was partitioned into four stages in the child’s life course: (1) pre-pregnancy, (2) pregnancy and infancy, (3) childhood, and (4) adolescence. We found that adolescents of a parent with mental health and/or DSH-related hospital admissions in all developmental periods except pregnancy and infancy were significantly more likely than controls to have a DSH-related hospital admission. Compared to parental hospital admissions that occurred during childhood and adolescence, those that occurred before pregnancy conferred a higher risk for adolescent DSH: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.25 for having only one parent hospitalised and 1.66 for having both parents hospitalised for mental health disorders; aOR = 1.97 for having any parent hospitalised for DSH, all being significant at the level of p < .001. This study shows that timing is important for understanding intergenerational transmission of DSH risk. The pre-pregnancy period is as critical as period after childbirth for effective intervention targeting adult mental health disorders and DSH, highlighting the important role of adult mental health services in preventing DSH risk in future generations.

The role of dissociation and abuse among adolescents who self-harm.

Retrospective recall of dissociative symptoms has been found to mediate the association between childhood abuse and deliberate self-harm (DSH) in later life. To disentangle the effect of recall bias, we tested whether dissociation symptoms ascertained during an acute DSH presentation mediates this link. All participants with DSH were recruited during emergency presentation. Seventy-one individuals aged 11-17 years with overdose (OD) and/or self-injury (SI) participated in semi-structured interviews and psychiatric assessment to measure abuse and dissociation. An age- and gender-matched comparison group of 42 non-psychiatric patients admitted to the same service were also assessed. The DSH groups reported significantly higher levels of abuse and dissociation compared to comparison group. Dissociation significantly mediated the association between abuse and DSH. Of the four dissociation subtypes, 'depersonalisation' was the primary mediator. Adolescents with chronic patterns of DSH and the 'OD + SI' self-harm type reported more severe dissociation. Exposure to abuse significantly increased the risk of DSH in adolescence. This association was mediated by dissociation. Our findings suggest a possible dose-response relationship between dissociation with DSH chronicity and the 'OD + SI' self-harm type, implicating the importance of evaluating dissociation and depersonalisation symptoms as well as abuse exposure in DSH management.

Trauma and deliberate self-harm among inpatient adolescents: The moderating role of anxiety sensitivity.

Youth with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms have significant difficulties regulating affective experiences; as a result, many engage in nonadaptive coping behaviors including deliberate self-harm (DSH). To identify youth with PTSD symptoms who may be most at risk for DSH, this study examined anxiety sensitivity (AS) as a moderator of the relationship between PTSD symptoms and DSH in a diverse sample of psychiatric inpatient youth with a history of potentially traumatic events (PTE). Participants (N = 50; 52.0% female; Mage = 15.1 years, SD = .51; 44% White) completed a test battery that included measures of DSH frequency, depression, AS and PTSD symptomatology. The proposed model accounted for 53.6% of variance in DSH, with PTSD symptoms being a significant predictor (sr2 = .11). The interaction of PTSD symptoms and AS accounted for an additional 4.5% of variance above and beyond covariates and main effects. Simple slopes revealed that the association between PTSD symptoms and DSH was significant for individuals scoring high (b = .25, SE = .06; t(50) = 3.83, p < .01) but not low (b = .03, SE = .10; t(50) = 0.30, p = .765) on the AS. Findings are consistent with theoretical and empirical work suggesting that DSH may be used to reduce emotional distress in the presence of maladaptive cognitive and emotional processes. (PsycINFO Database Record

Influence of early life exposure to social disadvantages on deliberate self-harm (DSH) among children of parents with mental health disorders

ABSTRACTIntroductionIt is well established that parental mental health disorders increase children’s risk of deliberate self-harm (DSH). However, little is known about how early life exposure to social disadvantage influences DSH among children whose parents have a mental health disorder.&#x0D; AimsTo examine how early life exposure to high neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage and having a teen mother influence the DSH risk among children whose parents have a mental health disorder.&#x0D; MethodsThis study was based on the linkage of population-level records routinely collected by government agencies in Western Australia. A birth cohort including 474,860 non-Aboriginal individuals born between 1981 and 2001 was followed up until 2011. A nested case-control sample was compiled from the birth cohort for data analysis. A total of 7,151 people with DSH-related contacts (cases) and 143,020 matched controls were analysed. Conditional logistic regression models were utilised in this study.&#x0D; ResultsExposure to high neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with additionally increased odds of DSH among children exposed to maternal mental health disorders during early childhood (1-4 years) (OR=1.75, 95%CI:1.30-2.36, p&lt;0.001). However, this was not observed for children exposed to maternal mental health disorders during late childhood (5-9 years) or adolescence (10-19 years). Comparatively, exposure to high socioeconomic disadvantage was related to additionally increased odds of DSH among children exposed to paternal mental health disorders during adolescence (10-19 years) (OR=2.25, 95%CI:1.60-3.16, p&lt;0.001), but not childhood. Having a teen mother was significantly associated with additionally increased odds of DSH, regardless of when the parental mental health disorders occurred. Children with a teen mother and early life exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage were at additionally increased odds of DSH, compared to children with only one form of disadvantage (OR=1.51,95%CI:1.07-2.12%,p=0.018) among children exposed to parental mental health disorders during childhood, but not during adolescence.&#x0D; Conclusion Among children of parents with mental health disorders, early life exposure to social disadvantage is not uncommon, and confers additionally increased risk of DSH. Therefore, preventive strategies need to be based on joint actions involving both social and health services, and need to incorporate child mental health interventions into adult mental health services. The cross-cutting efforts would provide a greater positive impact in effectively addressing the multifaceted nature of reducing DSH among children of parents with mental health disorders.

The impact of child maltreatment on the risk of deliberate self-harm among adolescents: A population-wide cohort study using linked administrative records

Adolescents exposed to maltreatment have an elevated risk of deliberate self-harm (DSH). The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinally the effects of the number, timing, and type of maltreatment allegations on adolescent risk of having a DSH-related hospital admission, using linked data in Western Australia. A total of 351,372 children born between 1986 and 2000 were followed from birth up to the year 2010. Cox regression models were utilized, while controlling for a range of psychosocial covariates. Compared to children without allegations of maltreatment, children with unsubstantiated allegations only (aHR=1.04, 95%CI: 1.00–1.08, p<.01) and children with a substantiated allegation (aHR=1.10, 95%CI: 1.06–1.15, p<.001) all had significantly increased risk of DSH in adolescence. Among children with a substantiated allegation of maltreatment, the greater the number of allegations, the longer the exposure to maltreatment, and the more types of maltreatment experienced by a child, the higher the child's risk of DSH. However, this dose–response pattern was not found among children with unsubstantiated allegations only. This study calls for the early identification of children who are vulnerable to maltreatment, the better identification of the duration and severity of maltreatment experiences, and the provision of continued care and support, to reduce the child's DSH risk in adolescence.

Influence of exposure to perinatal risk factors and parental mental health related hospital admission on adolescent deliberate self-harm risk.

Adolescent deliberate self-harm (DSH) has been found to be associated with a range of bio-psycho-social factors. Simultaneous investigations of these factors enable more robust estimation of the independent effect of a specific risk factor by adjusting for a more complete set of covariates. However, few studies have had the ability to examine all of these factors together. This study used the linkage of population-level de-identified data collections from government agencies to investigate a range of biological, psychological, and social risk factors and their effects on adolescent risk of DSH (with or without suicidal intent). The investigation was undertaken by progressively adjusting for plausible covariates, including fetal growth status and birth order, early familial social factors, parental hospital admissions due to psychiatric disorders or DSH, and parental all-cause death. Conditional logistic regression was used for data analysis. Children's psychiatric history was analysed to examine the extent to which it may account for the link between the risk factors and adolescent DSH risk. This study identified significant biological and perinatal social risk factorsfor adolescent DSH risk, including overdue birth, high birth order (≥2), single or teen/young motherhood, high neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage, and parental psychiatric and/or DSH-related hospital admissions. Further, parental psychiatric and/or DSH-related admissions, and children's psychiatric admissions in particular, largely attenuated the effects of the perinatal social risk factors but not the biological factors on adolescent DSH risk. These results highlight the importance of taking joint actions involving both health and social services in the prevention of adolescent DSH.

P058 Two cases of deliberate antiretroviral overdose: raltegravir and tenofovir disaproxil fumarate/emtricitabine

Background/introduction There is a high incidence of psychiatric illness amongst those living with HIV. This is associated with a risk of deliberate self harm including overdose with antiretrovirals. There are a small number of publications describing overdose with antiretrovirals but none describing overdose with raltegravir. Aim(s)/objectives In this report we aim to describe two cases of overdose with antiretrovirals: the management, investigations and resultant complications. Methods The patient case notes and laboratory test results were reviewed. Results Case 1: A 28 year old HIV-positive man presented 96 hours after taking a deliberate overdose of 40 x 400mg raltegravir tablets. He developed mild symptoms of diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and a sore chest. Results post-overdose: electrolytes and renal function: normal; liver function tests: ALT 58, others normal; creatinine kinase 67; haematology: normal; therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) results: raltegravir not detected 96 hours post overdose. There were no serious complications. Case 2: A 52 year old HIV-positive man presented 24 hours after taking a deliberate overdose of 18 × Truvada (tenofovir disaproxil fumarate/emtricitabine). He had no symptoms related to the overdose. Results post-overdose: urinalysis: normal; electrolytes and renal: phosphate 0.75, creatinine 94; TDM: 24 hours: 207 ng/ml; 48 hours: 80 ng/ml; 72 hours: 16 ng/ml; 192 hours: 2 ng/ml. There were no serious complications. Discussion/conclusion The patients in our case series showed few side effects and no serious sequelae as a result of their overdose. There seems to be little guidance available to guide management of such cases.

Antidepressant dose and the risk of deliberate self-harm.

Although the mechanism by which antidepressants (ADs) may increase the risk of suicide-related outcomes is unknown, it has been hypothesised that some adverse effects, including akathisia, insomnia and panic attacks, as well as an early energising effect that might allow patients with depression to act on suicidal impulses, may have a key role. Considering that these adverse effects are dose-related, it might be hypothesised that the risk of suicidal behaviour is similarly related to the AD dose. This research question has recently been addressed by a propensity score-matched observational cohort study that involved 162625 patients aged 10-64 years with a depression diagnosis who initiated therapy with citalopram, sertraline or fluoxetine. In this commentary, we discuss the main findings of this study in view of its methodological strengths and limitations, and we suggest possible implications for day-to-day clinical practice.

Antidepressants and the risk of deliberate self-harm

Antidepressants and the risk of deliberate self-harm

Heavy episodic drinking and deliberate self-harm in young people: a longitudinal cohort study

To assess the association between heavy episodic drinking (HED) and deliberate self-harm (DSH) in young people in Norway. We analysed data on past-year HED and DSH from the second (1994) and third (1999) waves of the Young in Norway Longitudinal Study (cumulative response rate: 68.1%, n = 2647). Associations between HED and DSH were obtained as odds ratios and population-attributable fractions (PAF) applying fixed-effects modelling, which eliminates the effects of time-invariant confounders. An increase in HED was associated with an increase in risk of DSH (OR = 1.64, P = 0.013), after controlling for time-varying confounders. The estimated PAF was 28% from fixed-effects modelling and 51% from conventional modelling. Data on Norwegian youths show a statistically significant association between heavy episodic drinking and deliberate self-harm.