A hospital-based study on trends in deliberate self-harm in children and adolescents.

Deliberate self-harm (DSH) refers to self-inflicted injuries that may or may not cause death. DSH is common among adolescents, especially females [1]. It may be a risk factor for future suicide [2]. Using data from medical records, this study focuses on children and adolescents who were admitted to Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya following deliberate self-harm. Approval for the study was granted by the Ethical Review Committee of Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna. We examined the BHTs of all adolescents (those under 19 years of age) admitted to the Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya with DSH during 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2007 (these years were selected based on availability and completeness of the records). Information about fatal DSH was obtained from the hospital police post. In a few cases, it could not be determined if the self-harm was deliberate; such cases were excluded.