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Self-poisoning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

K. Z. Cho*
Affiliation:
Bushey Fields Hospital, Dudley DY1 2LZ
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Abstract

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Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2005

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 (Reference Gelder, Mayou and CowenGelder et al, 2001). Most psychological and social interventions have been evaluated but none has been clearly effective in reducing repetition of self-harm (Reference Hawton, Arensman and TownsendHawton 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.Google Scholar
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, 441447.Google Scholar
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