Abstract
Background:
While a number of previous studies have examined limited forms of self-harm behavior, such as suicidal ideation/attempts/completions, or one specific behavior such as cutting or burning oneself (most frequently in psychiatric populations), few studies have examined the lifetime prevalence of multiple self-harm behaviors in a single non-psychiatric population and no study has done so among obstetrics/gynecology outpatients.
Method:
Using a cross-sectional consecutive sample of 370 women presenting to an obstetrics/gynecology outpatient clinic and a self-report survey methodology, we examined the lifetime prevalence of 22 self-harm behaviors.
Results:
In this sample, the most frequently self-reported self-harm behaviors were: engaged in emotionally abusive relationships (24.7%), abused alcohol (22.0%), been promiscuous (21.0%), attempted suicide (18.3%), and tortured self with self-defeating thoughts (16.7%). Four of these preceding behaviors were also the most commonly reported 5 of 22 behaviors in 3 previous studies of self-harm behavior in different clinical populations.
Conclusions:
It appears that the most frequently reported lifetime self-harm behaviors are relatively common across various non-psychiatric clinical populations of adults, albeit in different proportions, with some exceptions (i.e., suicide attempts in the present sample).
Keywords
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.