Background: Cannabis use is prevalent among patients at clinical high risk (CHR) for schizophreni... more Background: Cannabis use is prevalent among patients at clinical high risk (CHR) for schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders, despite its temporal association with increased psychotic-like symptoms. It is not known why CHR patients use cannabis despite these negative effects. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of cannabis use in CHR patients, their self-reported reasons for cannabis use, and the symptom correlates of these reasons for use. We hypothesized that as in schizophrenia, patients would endorse use of cannabis primarily for mood enhancement, and that this would be associated with anxiety and anhedonia in the cohort. Methods: A cohort of 115 CHR patients was assessed for cannabis use in the past 30 days. Among the 24 CHR patients (21%) who endorsed use, we evaluated their self-reported reasons for use, as well as their concurrent symptoms, including anhedonia, anxiety, and subthreshold positive symptoms, using the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes/Scale of Prodromal Symptoms. Results: Among the 24 CHR patients who endorsed cannabis use in the past 30 days, the most commonly endorsed reason for use was “mood enhancement”, as hypothesized. Motivation for enhancement of mood with cannabis was associated at a trend level with trait anhedonia (r = 0.4, p = 0.08). Posthoc analyses showed anxiety was associated with selfreported “social” motives for cannabis use (r = 0.6, p = 0.003), which remained significant when corrected for multiple comparisons. Posthoc analyses also suggested motivation for “relief of symptoms” was unrelated to subthreshold psychotic symptoms (r = −0.2, p = 0.32). Conclusion: Adolescents and young adults at risk for schizophrenia report motivations for use of cannabis primarily for mood enhancement, a common motivation that has been endorsed by schizophrenia patients. This may be related to the difficulty of anticipating pleasure in activities other than using cannabis. At-risk youths may also be “self-medicating” anxiety in an effort to be more social, though seem unlikely to be “self-medicating” their psychotic-like experiences, which may be more a consequence of cannabis use rather than a cause. Understanding why at-risk patients use cannabis is key to psychological treatments aimed at reducing cannabis use in youths at heightened and imminent risk of psychosis onset.
Journal of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1992
In a longitudinal study of their health and development, 384 15-year-old females reported their e... more In a longitudinal study of their health and development, 384 15-year-old females reported their experience of symptoms indicative of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The prevalence of these symptoms is reported and a group of adolescents is identified with the syndrome (14%). PMS was associated with current self-reported anxiety, inattention, and poor health. Preadolescent self-report and maternal ratings of physical and mental health did not significantly predict adolescent PMS. The results suggest that the experience of PMS in adolescence may be mediated by perceived health status; the roles of mental health and maternal influence in the development of adolescent PMS may be minimal.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 1994
The one-year prevalence and correlates of selected DSM-III-R disorders were determined in a sampl... more The one-year prevalence and correlates of selected DSM-III-R disorders were determined in a sample of 930 18-year-olds. Using both diagnostic and impairment criteria 340 individuals (36.6%) were considered to have disorder. The most prevalent disorders were major depressive episode (16.7%), alcohol dependence (10.4%) and social phobia (11.1%). There was a high degree of co-morbidity among disorders; 46% of those with disorder had two or more. The prevalence of disorders was greater for females, with the exception of conduct disorder and alcohol or marijuana dependence. A variety of characteristics were associated with disorder, including poor social competence, disadvantage and self-rated health status. A third of those with disorder had their problems recognised by a "significant-other". The results are presented within the context of a perceived need for research in the area of adolescent and early adult mental health in order to minimise the toll of mental disorder in later life.
This paper reports the findings from a study of 935 adolescents' perceived attachments to their p... more This paper reports the findings from a study of 935 adolescents' perceived attachments to their parents and peers, and their psychological health and well-being. Perceived attachment to parents did not significantly differ between males and females. However, females scored significantly higher than males on a measure of attachment to peers. Also, relative to males, they had higher anxiety and depression scores, suggesting poorer psychological well-being. Overall, a lower perceived attachment to parents was significantly associated with lower scores on the measures of well-being. Adolescents who perceived high attachments to both their parents and peers had the highest scores on a measure of self-perceived strengths. In this study, adolescents' perceived attachment to peers did not appear to compensate for a low attachment to parents in regard to their mental ill-health. These findings suggest that high perceived attachment to parents may be a critical variable associated with psychological well-being in adolescence.
Abstract The authors sought to answer the following questions: Are more women than men physically... more Abstract The authors sought to answer the following questions: Are more women than men physically assaulted by a partner? Do a disproportionate number of physical assaults against women involve a partner? Are women subjected to more physical assaults from ...
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2007
Objective: To explore aspects of aggression, in particular fighting and weapon carrying, among hi... more Objective: To explore aspects of aggression, in particular fighting and weapon carrying, among high school students. This was in response to an earlier survey of Dunedin young people and will assist in the development of a broader quantitative study on aggression among high schools students.Methods: A qualitative investigation using eight focus groups of 41 participants was conducted in Otago, New Zealand, between November 2004 and February 2005. The focus groups were analysed to identify common themes and critical issues.Results: Results suggest there are different levels of fighting, but participants agreed that a fight should be defined as serious as opposed to a play fight. Fights often begin as verbal and escalate to physical. Differences were found in fighting at school and outside of school. Whether an item was considered a weapon or not depended on the intended use of the item. Participants suggested that some items may be reported as weapons, even though they are not being carried for such purposes. If so, the estimates provided in the prior Dunedin survey may be unduly high.Conclusions: Surveys such as the Youth Risk Behaviour Survey provide a snapshot of youth aggression, but may hide significant differences in the nature of the aggression being reported.Implications: Prevention should concentrate on changing the social environment of our schools and communities. Further research should include more in-depth questions on fighting and weapon carrying, both at school and outside of school, to better estimate the prevalence of these behaviours and the context in which they occur.
A modified version of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scale was administered ... more A modified version of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scale was administered to 837 adolescents, aged 15 years, to assess their beliefs about health. There were significant sex differences on the total scores of the internal and powerful others dimensions of the scale. MHLC beliefs were not significantly associated with self-reported ratings of general health or mental health. Significantly more distress due to the experience of negative life events was reported by females with a strong internal locus of control. Maternal health beliefs showed stronger associations with daughters' health beliefs than sons'. For males, strong beliefs in an internal locus of control and weak beliefs in chance were significantly associated with aspects of attachment, social support and self-perceived strengths. There were weak correlations for the majority of associations between health beliefs and health measures and most of the adolescents reported either good or very good health. The findings suggest that adolescents' health beliefs may be quite different from those of adults.
Transportation Research Part F-traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 1998
The study aimed to determine, irrespective of driver licence status, whether young drivers with t... more The study aimed to determine, irrespective of driver licence status, whether young drivers with traffic conviction records at age 21 years differed from those without, with respect to prior personal characteristics measured around the minimum age of licensure (presently 15 years in New Zealand). From a broad range of psychological and social factors, the strongest and most stable predictors were
This longitudinal population-based study examined pathways to nonsuicidal self-harm (NSSH) in rel... more This longitudinal population-based study examined pathways to nonsuicidal self-harm (NSSH) in relation to childhood sexual abuse (CSA), assault victimization in early adulthood, posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology (PTSD), and other mental disorders. At age 21, 476 men and 455 women completed interviews on assault victimization, PTSD, and other mental disorders. At age 26, they completed independent interviews on self-harm and childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine predictors for NSSH at age 26. For men, anxiety and depressive disorders at age 21 were the only significant predictors of NSSH at age 26. For women, victimization, PTSD, and other anxiety disorders at age 21 all significantly predicted NSSH. CSA predicted later NSSH only indirectly, by increasing the risk of anxiety disorders among men and of assault victimization among women. In conclusion, pathways to nonsuicidal self-harm differed by sex. For women there were direct links with assault victimization and PTSD in early adulthood, whereas for men only internalizing disorders predicted future NSSH.
The associations of body piercing with other social characteristics, personality, and sexual beha... more The associations of body piercing with other social characteristics, personality, and sexual behavior were investigated in a population-based sample of young adults, in light of the theory that body piercing has meaning in terms of a corporeal expression of the self. At age 26 years, 966 (95%) of 1019 members of the birth-cohort of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study were asked about body piercing (at interview) and sexual behavior (questions presented by computer). Assessment of personality traits was conducted at ages 18 or 21 years. In total, 183 participants (9% of the men and 29% of the women) had piercings at a site other than the earlobes. People who lived outside New Zealand or who were of Maori descent were more likely to be pierced, but unemployment and low occupational status were not significantly related to piercing. Women who were pierced, compared with those without piercings, were more likely to have personality traits of low constraint or high negative emotionality. Women with piercings were also more likely to report having had, during the previous year, five or more heterosexual partners (odds ratio, 5.8, 95% CI: 2.3-14.6) or any same-sex partner involving genital contact (odds ratio, 10.3, CI: 2.9-37.2). The associations with sexual behavior in men were weaker and not statistically significant. In this population, body piercing in women was associated with sexual behavior. Having multiple heterosexual partners or any same-sex partner was very rare among women without piercings. The theory of meaning for body piercing was generally supported, offering the possibility of a richer understanding of this phenomenon in the general population.
Journal of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1997
The associations between symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct dis... more The associations between symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, anxiety, or depression and no disorder in relation to driving offenses were examined in 916 adolescents. Self-report and parent report were used to assess a birth cohort of New Zealand adolescents' mental health status at age 15 years. Adolescents who scored 1.5 SD above the mean on the DSM-III total ADHD symptom scale were identified as reporting significant ADHD symptomatology. Self-report data and official traffic conviction records were used to identify adolescents who had committed driving offenses between ages 15 and 18 years. ADHD symptomatology and conduct disorder were strongly associated with driving offenses. ADHD symptomatology in females was significantly associated with driving offenses and more traffic crashes compared with other disorder or no disorder. Adolescents with a history of ADHD and conduct problems are significantly more likely than their peers to commit traffic offenses. Research in ADHD and risky driving should include female adolescents, as those with attentional difficulties are at a high risk for being involved in traffic crashes than females who do not experience attentional difficulties.
Out of control sexual behavior, also known as compulsive sexual behavior or sexual addiction, has... more Out of control sexual behavior, also known as compulsive sexual behavior or sexual addiction, has not been studied in a representative sample of the general population. At age 32 years, 940 (93%) of 1,015 members of the birth cohort of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study responded to a series of questions about sexual behavior, administered by computer. We enquired about sexual fantasies, urges or behavior that participants regarded as out of control during the previous year, and defined such experiences as out of control sexual experiences (OCSE). Nearly 13% of men and 7% of women reported OCSE in the past year. Women who reported such experiences were more likely than other women to have reported (elsewhere in the interview) having had high numbers of opposite sex partners, concurrent sexual relationships, or sex with a partner met on the internet, as well as a higher likelihood of same-sex attraction or behavior. Among men reporting OCSE, there was an association with having paid for heterosexual sex and with same-sex attraction and behavior. Few believed that OCSE had interfered with their lives (3.8% of all men and 1.7% of all women in the cohort). Only 0.8% of men and 0.6% of women reported that their actual sexual behavior had interfered with their lives. OCSE were also analyzed in relation to certain personality traits and to childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Some evidence of a link with impulsivity (women only) and negative affectivity was found. CSA was associated with OCSE among men. In conclusion, this population-based study has provided the first empirical estimations of the occurrence of OCSE and its relationship to a range of sexual behaviors in a representative sample.
Little is known about the extent to which minor self-harm in the general population is associated... more Little is known about the extent to which minor self-harm in the general population is associated with psychiatric disorder. A population-based sample of 980 young adults was interviewed independently about past-year suicidal and self-harm behavior and thoughts, and psychiatric disorders. Self-harm included self-harmful behaviors such as self-battery, as well as traditional methods of suicide (ICD [International Classification of Diseases] self-harm). All with ICD self-harm and most with other self-harmful behavior met the criteria for DSM-IV disorder. Suicidal/self-harmful thoughts increased the odds for self-harm, even in men without psychiatric disorder (odds ratio 4.9, 95% confidence interval 1.3-17.9). Young adults engaging in even minor self-harm warrant screening for psychiatric disorder.
Background: Cannabis use is prevalent among patients at clinical high risk (CHR) for schizophreni... more Background: Cannabis use is prevalent among patients at clinical high risk (CHR) for schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders, despite its temporal association with increased psychotic-like symptoms. It is not known why CHR patients use cannabis despite these negative effects. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of cannabis use in CHR patients, their self-reported reasons for cannabis use, and the symptom correlates of these reasons for use. We hypothesized that as in schizophrenia, patients would endorse use of cannabis primarily for mood enhancement, and that this would be associated with anxiety and anhedonia in the cohort. Methods: A cohort of 115 CHR patients was assessed for cannabis use in the past 30 days. Among the 24 CHR patients (21%) who endorsed use, we evaluated their self-reported reasons for use, as well as their concurrent symptoms, including anhedonia, anxiety, and subthreshold positive symptoms, using the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes/Scale of Prodromal Symptoms. Results: Among the 24 CHR patients who endorsed cannabis use in the past 30 days, the most commonly endorsed reason for use was “mood enhancement”, as hypothesized. Motivation for enhancement of mood with cannabis was associated at a trend level with trait anhedonia (r = 0.4, p = 0.08). Posthoc analyses showed anxiety was associated with selfreported “social” motives for cannabis use (r = 0.6, p = 0.003), which remained significant when corrected for multiple comparisons. Posthoc analyses also suggested motivation for “relief of symptoms” was unrelated to subthreshold psychotic symptoms (r = −0.2, p = 0.32). Conclusion: Adolescents and young adults at risk for schizophrenia report motivations for use of cannabis primarily for mood enhancement, a common motivation that has been endorsed by schizophrenia patients. This may be related to the difficulty of anticipating pleasure in activities other than using cannabis. At-risk youths may also be “self-medicating” anxiety in an effort to be more social, though seem unlikely to be “self-medicating” their psychotic-like experiences, which may be more a consequence of cannabis use rather than a cause. Understanding why at-risk patients use cannabis is key to psychological treatments aimed at reducing cannabis use in youths at heightened and imminent risk of psychosis onset.
Journal of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1992
In a longitudinal study of their health and development, 384 15-year-old females reported their e... more In a longitudinal study of their health and development, 384 15-year-old females reported their experience of symptoms indicative of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The prevalence of these symptoms is reported and a group of adolescents is identified with the syndrome (14%). PMS was associated with current self-reported anxiety, inattention, and poor health. Preadolescent self-report and maternal ratings of physical and mental health did not significantly predict adolescent PMS. The results suggest that the experience of PMS in adolescence may be mediated by perceived health status; the roles of mental health and maternal influence in the development of adolescent PMS may be minimal.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 1994
The one-year prevalence and correlates of selected DSM-III-R disorders were determined in a sampl... more The one-year prevalence and correlates of selected DSM-III-R disorders were determined in a sample of 930 18-year-olds. Using both diagnostic and impairment criteria 340 individuals (36.6%) were considered to have disorder. The most prevalent disorders were major depressive episode (16.7%), alcohol dependence (10.4%) and social phobia (11.1%). There was a high degree of co-morbidity among disorders; 46% of those with disorder had two or more. The prevalence of disorders was greater for females, with the exception of conduct disorder and alcohol or marijuana dependence. A variety of characteristics were associated with disorder, including poor social competence, disadvantage and self-rated health status. A third of those with disorder had their problems recognised by a "significant-other". The results are presented within the context of a perceived need for research in the area of adolescent and early adult mental health in order to minimise the toll of mental disorder in later life.
This paper reports the findings from a study of 935 adolescents' perceived attachments to their p... more This paper reports the findings from a study of 935 adolescents' perceived attachments to their parents and peers, and their psychological health and well-being. Perceived attachment to parents did not significantly differ between males and females. However, females scored significantly higher than males on a measure of attachment to peers. Also, relative to males, they had higher anxiety and depression scores, suggesting poorer psychological well-being. Overall, a lower perceived attachment to parents was significantly associated with lower scores on the measures of well-being. Adolescents who perceived high attachments to both their parents and peers had the highest scores on a measure of self-perceived strengths. In this study, adolescents' perceived attachment to peers did not appear to compensate for a low attachment to parents in regard to their mental ill-health. These findings suggest that high perceived attachment to parents may be a critical variable associated with psychological well-being in adolescence.
Abstract The authors sought to answer the following questions: Are more women than men physically... more Abstract The authors sought to answer the following questions: Are more women than men physically assaulted by a partner? Do a disproportionate number of physical assaults against women involve a partner? Are women subjected to more physical assaults from ...
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2007
Objective: To explore aspects of aggression, in particular fighting and weapon carrying, among hi... more Objective: To explore aspects of aggression, in particular fighting and weapon carrying, among high school students. This was in response to an earlier survey of Dunedin young people and will assist in the development of a broader quantitative study on aggression among high schools students.Methods: A qualitative investigation using eight focus groups of 41 participants was conducted in Otago, New Zealand, between November 2004 and February 2005. The focus groups were analysed to identify common themes and critical issues.Results: Results suggest there are different levels of fighting, but participants agreed that a fight should be defined as serious as opposed to a play fight. Fights often begin as verbal and escalate to physical. Differences were found in fighting at school and outside of school. Whether an item was considered a weapon or not depended on the intended use of the item. Participants suggested that some items may be reported as weapons, even though they are not being carried for such purposes. If so, the estimates provided in the prior Dunedin survey may be unduly high.Conclusions: Surveys such as the Youth Risk Behaviour Survey provide a snapshot of youth aggression, but may hide significant differences in the nature of the aggression being reported.Implications: Prevention should concentrate on changing the social environment of our schools and communities. Further research should include more in-depth questions on fighting and weapon carrying, both at school and outside of school, to better estimate the prevalence of these behaviours and the context in which they occur.
A modified version of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scale was administered ... more A modified version of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scale was administered to 837 adolescents, aged 15 years, to assess their beliefs about health. There were significant sex differences on the total scores of the internal and powerful others dimensions of the scale. MHLC beliefs were not significantly associated with self-reported ratings of general health or mental health. Significantly more distress due to the experience of negative life events was reported by females with a strong internal locus of control. Maternal health beliefs showed stronger associations with daughters' health beliefs than sons'. For males, strong beliefs in an internal locus of control and weak beliefs in chance were significantly associated with aspects of attachment, social support and self-perceived strengths. There were weak correlations for the majority of associations between health beliefs and health measures and most of the adolescents reported either good or very good health. The findings suggest that adolescents' health beliefs may be quite different from those of adults.
Transportation Research Part F-traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 1998
The study aimed to determine, irrespective of driver licence status, whether young drivers with t... more The study aimed to determine, irrespective of driver licence status, whether young drivers with traffic conviction records at age 21 years differed from those without, with respect to prior personal characteristics measured around the minimum age of licensure (presently 15 years in New Zealand). From a broad range of psychological and social factors, the strongest and most stable predictors were
This longitudinal population-based study examined pathways to nonsuicidal self-harm (NSSH) in rel... more This longitudinal population-based study examined pathways to nonsuicidal self-harm (NSSH) in relation to childhood sexual abuse (CSA), assault victimization in early adulthood, posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology (PTSD), and other mental disorders. At age 21, 476 men and 455 women completed interviews on assault victimization, PTSD, and other mental disorders. At age 26, they completed independent interviews on self-harm and childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine predictors for NSSH at age 26. For men, anxiety and depressive disorders at age 21 were the only significant predictors of NSSH at age 26. For women, victimization, PTSD, and other anxiety disorders at age 21 all significantly predicted NSSH. CSA predicted later NSSH only indirectly, by increasing the risk of anxiety disorders among men and of assault victimization among women. In conclusion, pathways to nonsuicidal self-harm differed by sex. For women there were direct links with assault victimization and PTSD in early adulthood, whereas for men only internalizing disorders predicted future NSSH.
The associations of body piercing with other social characteristics, personality, and sexual beha... more The associations of body piercing with other social characteristics, personality, and sexual behavior were investigated in a population-based sample of young adults, in light of the theory that body piercing has meaning in terms of a corporeal expression of the self. At age 26 years, 966 (95%) of 1019 members of the birth-cohort of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study were asked about body piercing (at interview) and sexual behavior (questions presented by computer). Assessment of personality traits was conducted at ages 18 or 21 years. In total, 183 participants (9% of the men and 29% of the women) had piercings at a site other than the earlobes. People who lived outside New Zealand or who were of Maori descent were more likely to be pierced, but unemployment and low occupational status were not significantly related to piercing. Women who were pierced, compared with those without piercings, were more likely to have personality traits of low constraint or high negative emotionality. Women with piercings were also more likely to report having had, during the previous year, five or more heterosexual partners (odds ratio, 5.8, 95% CI: 2.3-14.6) or any same-sex partner involving genital contact (odds ratio, 10.3, CI: 2.9-37.2). The associations with sexual behavior in men were weaker and not statistically significant. In this population, body piercing in women was associated with sexual behavior. Having multiple heterosexual partners or any same-sex partner was very rare among women without piercings. The theory of meaning for body piercing was generally supported, offering the possibility of a richer understanding of this phenomenon in the general population.
Journal of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1997
The associations between symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct dis... more The associations between symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, anxiety, or depression and no disorder in relation to driving offenses were examined in 916 adolescents. Self-report and parent report were used to assess a birth cohort of New Zealand adolescents' mental health status at age 15 years. Adolescents who scored 1.5 SD above the mean on the DSM-III total ADHD symptom scale were identified as reporting significant ADHD symptomatology. Self-report data and official traffic conviction records were used to identify adolescents who had committed driving offenses between ages 15 and 18 years. ADHD symptomatology and conduct disorder were strongly associated with driving offenses. ADHD symptomatology in females was significantly associated with driving offenses and more traffic crashes compared with other disorder or no disorder. Adolescents with a history of ADHD and conduct problems are significantly more likely than their peers to commit traffic offenses. Research in ADHD and risky driving should include female adolescents, as those with attentional difficulties are at a high risk for being involved in traffic crashes than females who do not experience attentional difficulties.
Out of control sexual behavior, also known as compulsive sexual behavior or sexual addiction, has... more Out of control sexual behavior, also known as compulsive sexual behavior or sexual addiction, has not been studied in a representative sample of the general population. At age 32 years, 940 (93%) of 1,015 members of the birth cohort of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study responded to a series of questions about sexual behavior, administered by computer. We enquired about sexual fantasies, urges or behavior that participants regarded as out of control during the previous year, and defined such experiences as out of control sexual experiences (OCSE). Nearly 13% of men and 7% of women reported OCSE in the past year. Women who reported such experiences were more likely than other women to have reported (elsewhere in the interview) having had high numbers of opposite sex partners, concurrent sexual relationships, or sex with a partner met on the internet, as well as a higher likelihood of same-sex attraction or behavior. Among men reporting OCSE, there was an association with having paid for heterosexual sex and with same-sex attraction and behavior. Few believed that OCSE had interfered with their lives (3.8% of all men and 1.7% of all women in the cohort). Only 0.8% of men and 0.6% of women reported that their actual sexual behavior had interfered with their lives. OCSE were also analyzed in relation to certain personality traits and to childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Some evidence of a link with impulsivity (women only) and negative affectivity was found. CSA was associated with OCSE among men. In conclusion, this population-based study has provided the first empirical estimations of the occurrence of OCSE and its relationship to a range of sexual behaviors in a representative sample.
Little is known about the extent to which minor self-harm in the general population is associated... more Little is known about the extent to which minor self-harm in the general population is associated with psychiatric disorder. A population-based sample of 980 young adults was interviewed independently about past-year suicidal and self-harm behavior and thoughts, and psychiatric disorders. Self-harm included self-harmful behaviors such as self-battery, as well as traditional methods of suicide (ICD [International Classification of Diseases] self-harm). All with ICD self-harm and most with other self-harmful behavior met the criteria for DSM-IV disorder. Suicidal/self-harmful thoughts increased the odds for self-harm, even in men without psychiatric disorder (odds ratio 4.9, 95% confidence interval 1.3-17.9). Young adults engaging in even minor self-harm warrant screening for psychiatric disorder.
Uploads
Papers by Shyamala Nada-Raja