Psychiatric Bulletin (2009) 33: 423-425. doi: 10.1192/pb.bp.108.019869
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Management of self-harm in older people

Nikki D. Toms, Senior Medical Advisor in General Medicine

Royal Free Hospital, London

Craig W. Ritchie, Senior Clinical Research Fellow and Honorary Consultant

*Department of Psychological Medicine, Imperial College London Claybrook Centre, 37 Claybrook Road, London W6 8LN, email: c.ritchie{at}imperial.ac.uk

Declaration of interest

Since submitting this article, N.D.T. has moved into the pharmaceutical industry.

AIMS AND METHOD

The epidemiology of self-harm in older people is poorly understood and a low incidence rate hampers research efforts. Regional surveillance for this may assist with research and improve clinical services accordingly. This study involved undertaking a scoping exercise to explore current management of self-harm in elderly people in selected North London hospitals, by interviewing healthcare professionals directly involved in their treatment.

RESULTS

The study showed varied methods of coding clinical information across trusts, with no consistent method of surveillance.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Implications of this exercise involve generation of a summary document that will educate stage two of the project, which is the convention of a working party to implement a surveillance system across the region.