A Comparative Study of the Management of Cases of Deliberate Self-Harm in a District General Hospital

Bibliographic Data

ID10898228
AuthorsMichael Bateson (University of Manchester, corresponding author), J Oliver (0000-0003-0152-436X), D Goldberg (0000-0001-7364-9781, Royal College of Psychiatrists)
Year1989
Volume19
Issue6
Pages461-477
Publication date1989-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe British Journal of Social Work (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0045-3102 • E-ISSN: 1468-263X
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/bjsw/19.6.461
OpenAlexW4240192691
LanguageEN
Citations received1

A controlled study was undertaken of two services assessing and managing cases of deliberate self-harm admitted to a casualty department. The first service featured psychiatrists only and the second included psychiatric social workers as well as psychiatrists. A combination of standardized instruments, a structured questionnaire, a twelve month diary and medical and social work files were used to collect information. Demographic factors, repetition rates, types of help offered, client satisfaction, social circumstances and general health were investigated. Few significant differences were found to have existed between the client populations of the two services at initial assessment. Also, there were no apparent differences in factors intervening between initial assessment and follow-up. However, the analysis of outcome measures indicates that clients benefited substantially from the addition of a psychiatric social worker in the following areas: help offered, client satisfaction, social circumstances and general health. These results are discussed.

Family medicine · General hospital · Harm · Library science · Mental health · Political science · Psychiatry · Sociology · Healthcare Decision-Making and Restraints · Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse · Law · Medicine · Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies · Social Work

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