Evaluation of the Relation between Deliberate Self-Harm Behavior and Childhood Trauma Experiences in Patients Admitted to the Second-Step Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic for Adolescent and Young Adult

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the features of deliberate self-harm (DSH) behavior in patients admitted to the psychiatric outpatient clinic for adolescents and young adults and also to detect the association between the act of DSH and childhood traumas. Methods: In this study, we included all patients who were admitted to the secondary care psychiatric outpatient clinic for adolescents and young adults in Bakirkoy Research and Training Hospital psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery throughout a month. Three hundred participants were administered a sociodemographic data form, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), Childhood Abuse and Neglect Question List and the Deliberate Self-Harm and Intent Screening Form. Results: The prevalence of DSH was 50.0% among the participants (56.8% for female and 28.8% for male). Childhood abuse was detected in 57.0% of all participants (60.4% of females and 46.6% of males). Among patients with act of DSH, childhood abuse rate was 71.3% while it was 42.7% in subjects without act of DSH. Conclusion: DSH is a common behavior among adolescent psychiatric patients. It is more common in females than in males. The prevalence of childhood abuse and neglect experience is remarkably high and is associated with self-harm behavior.