Risk factors for self-harm in children and adolescents admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Malta

Abstract

The aim of this research was to identify risk factors for self-harm amongst the total population of children and adolescents admitted to an in-patient psychiatric hospital over a five-year period. A retrospective audit of patient records (N = 212) covering 2010 to 2014 (both years included) showed that approximately 38% of all children and adolescents who were in-patients at the psychiatric hospital during the study period harmed themselves prior to admission. Male gender was found to be associated with self-harm. Results also suggested that family factors, specifically living with a single parent, significantly added to the risk of self-harm amongst the study population. Although the findings revealed that being male and hailing from a single-parent family are significant risk factors for self-harm in Maltese children and adolescents, this study did not establish why this is the case, therefore suggesting the need for further research. A prospective, longitudinal design would assess predictors of self-harm more clearly. Furthermore, self-reports would increase accuracy and reduce third-party reporter bias, while permitting more indepth exploration of the risk factors involved in child and adolescent deliberate self-harm.