Perspectives of mental health professionals and patients on self-injury in psychiatry: A literature review

Professionals in psychiatry often encounter patients who injure themselves. To explore the perspectives of mental health professionals and patients on self-injurious behavior and treatment, the authors carried out a literature review. The reviewers found little documented data that elucidated or discussed any shared understanding about self-injurious behavior between patients and professionals or between professionals themselves. Many of the problems experienced in relation to self-injury may be due to this lack of a common view. There were few evidence-based strategies for managing self-injury that received any attention in the literature. Future studies should focus on the development and testing of preventative interventions, putting particular emphasis on effective communication between professionals and patients. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc.