P0183 - Clinical diagnoses and behavioural symptoms of Hungarian adolescent outpatients suffering from self-injurious behaviour

Abstract

Background and Aims:

Deliberate self-harm is an increasing problem (6-7% prevalence rate) in teenagers.The aims of the study was to present diagnoses of Hungarian self-injurious adolescents and to identify features of SIB.

Sample. 48 female adolescent outpatients collected from a total of 396 new outpatients recently referred and treated in 4 Child Psychiatric centres of Western-Hungary over a one-year admission period.

Assessment methods.a) Hungarian pilot version of the Ottawa Self-injury Inventory for adolescents (OSI), b) M.I.N.I. Plus diagnostic clinical interview,Hungarian standard version.

Results:

The leading diagnoses were major depression, one from the anxiety syndromes (social phobia or GAD) and the third leading diagnosis was suicidal behavior.83 and 64 % reported comorbid suicidal behaviour. The more frequent type is that of self-cutterers, the regions affected best are upper and low-arm, hand, thigh, legs. The preferred methods are cutting, scarifying, wound-making and burning of a body region.40% of SIB patients shares no information (even with her closest friend) about her self-destrutive impulses.Motivations are: crisis in romantic relationship, academic or social failure and feeling of denial.The task the girls aim at are to appease her rage, depression, irritable mood and feelings of hurt.40% continues the risk behavior although she is highly conscious of the disadvantageous consequences.

Conclusions:

The majority of SIB adolescents suffer from an episode of MD often in comorbidity with anxiety disorder or with suicidal behavior.SIB has not only an impulsive but an incubated form too.Few SIB patients utilize substitute activities to divert herself from self-destructions and only half is motivated to change.