ISSN: 2375-4494

Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior
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  • Research Article   
  • J Child Adolesc Behav 2016, Vol 4(3): 302
  • DOI: 10.4172/2375-4494.1000302

Self-Harm in Children under 14: A Comparison of Inpatients Who Self- Harm with Those Who Do Not

Bonnie Palmer, Graham Martin* and Graham Martin
Department of Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, RBWH Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia
*Corresponding Author : Graham Martin, Department of Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, RBWH Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia, Tel: 617-34088475, Email: g.martin@uq.edu.au

Received Date: May 08, 2016 / Accepted Date: Jun 27, 2016 / Published Date: Jun 30, 2016

Abstract

This study investigated characteristics and variables associated with self-harm in patients in a psychiatric unit which accepted children aged 7-13 years. It sought specifically to determine the role of emotion regulation as a motivation for self-harm in children. The study involved hypothesis driven examination of case files from 80 in patients admitted between 2003-8 to the Child and Family Therapy Unit (CFTU) at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. Inpatients were selected, independent of the researchers, based on scores for HoNOSCA Item 3: ‘Non-accidental self-injury’. Forty inpatients (‘self-harm group’) had been scored on admission by inpatient staff as 2 (mild problem but definitely present), 3 (moderately severe problem) and 4 (severe to very severe problem). Forty inpatients (the ‘No self-harm comparison group’) had been scored 0 (No problem) or 1 (Minor problem requiring no action). Most common methods were ‘cutting’ and ‘head-banging’. The self-harm group differed from the comparison group in terms of family-related factors such as living situation, and psychological functioning as measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), total HoNOSCA scores, and a history of sexual abuse. Our hypothesis that children engage in self-harm to regulate their emotions was not supported. Explanations for the findings and implications for research, intervention and prevention are discussed.

Keywords: Self-harm; Non-suicidal self-injury; NSSI; Child; Inpatient

Citation: Palmer B, Martin G (2016) Self-Harm in Children under 14: A Comparison of Inpatients Who Self-Harm with Those Who Do Not. J Child Adolesc Behav 4: 302. Doi: 10.4172/2375-4494.1000302

Copyright: © 2016 Palmer B, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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