Revisiting profile of deliberate self-harm at a tertiary care hospital after an interval of 10 years

CONTEXT: Sociocultural factors complement psychopathological factors that result in deliberate self-harm (DSH). A study of change in these factors over time is essential for preventive action. AIMS: To identify factors influencing DSH, which have shown significant variation over a period of 10 years. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Two hospital-based cross-sectional analytic types of observational studies were performed at two different times at an interval of 10 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sociodemographic profile, factors related to DSH, stressful life events, and psychiatric disorders were assessed in two groups of patients drawn from the same tertiary care hospital, 100 consecutive patients in 2002 and 117 in 2012. The observations were compared to identify factors that have undergone significant change. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics along with Chi-square test was used in this study. RESULTS: A significant decrease in the overall number of married subjects (60% vs. 43%) and an increase in the number of unmarried females (34% vs. 61%) were seen. A significant increase in the overall number of rural subjects (17% vs. 34%) and especially in a number of rural females (7% vs. 23%) was also seen. An increase in subjects from middle socioeconomic class (15% vs. 29%) and education up to secondary school (9% vs. 25%) was also seen. A significantly higher number of subjects had a psychiatric disorder (50% vs. 81%) with a significant increase in diagnoses of depression (36% vs. 67%). Family and social issues remain the most common antecedent stressful events. Chemical methods are still the most preferred means, but a higher number (8% vs. 18%) report a history of self-harm. CONCLUSION: Variations in factors responsible for DSH identified in this comparative study have preventive implications.