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Violent deliberate self-harm amongst adolescent refugees

Abstract

Investigation of frequency and characteristics of violent deliberate self-harm (DSH) amongst adolescents. Study was retrospective, over 3-year period, based on records of attendees at child and adolescent mental health clinics in North West London. Nine adolescents showed violent self-harm out of 982 DSH cases (frequency 0.92%). The nine cases included five female asylum seekers, who experienced war related events, were significantly more likely to have affective disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compared with the four males (none asylum seekers), who were significantly more likely to have conduct and substance misuse disorders.

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Correspondence to Matthew Hodes PhD, FRCPsych.

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Patel, N., Hodes, M. Violent deliberate self-harm amongst adolescent refugees. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 15, 367–370 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-006-0543-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-006-0543-6

Keywords

  • deliberate self-harm
  • violent
  • asylum seekers
  • refugees
  • post-traumatic stress disorder