Psychiatric Bulletin (2005) 29: 472. doi: 10.1192/pb.29.12.472
© 2005 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatric Bulletin (2005) 29: 472
© 2005 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Self-poisoning
K. Z. Cho
Bushey Fields Hospital, Dudley DY1 2LZ
I read with interest the recent article by Leslie et al
(Psychiatric Bulletin, August 2005, 29, 305-308) who reported
that admission for self-poisoning is common and suggested that adequate
provision of psychiatric and social support is particularly important to
ensure access for a greater number of patients. I agree with their statements;
current estimates of self-harm (including self-poisoning) are about 3 per 1000
population per year. This results in over 100 000 hospital admissions each
year (Gelder et al,
2001). Most psychological and social interventions have been
evaluated but none has been clearly effective in reducing repetition of
self-harm (Hawton et al,
1998). Although there is a lack of evidence of the effectiveness
of interventions, there are strong reasons for believing that well-organised
care has other benefits. It enables recognition and treatment of major mental
disorders and also should be made accessible for a majority of patients.
References
GELDER, M., MAYOU, R. & COWEN, P. (eds) (2001)
Shorter Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
HAWTON, K., ARENSMAN, E., TOWNSEND E., et al
(1998) Deliberate self harm: a systematic review of the efficacy
of psychosocial and pharmacological treatments in preventing relapse.
BMJ, 317, 441
-447.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
