CHARACTERISTICS AND RATE OF DELIBERATE SELF-HARM AMONG NEWLY REFERRED CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS TO CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OUTPATIENT CLINIC IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM.
Abang Bennett1,2 and Rujiah Labau1
1Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Psychiatry, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Negara Brunei Darussalam.
2PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam. Negara Brunei Darussalam.
Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to examine the rate of self-harm among new referrals seen at CAMHS outpatient clinic in Brunei and to compare the clinical and demographic characteristics between deliberate self-harm (DSH) and non deliberate self-harm (non DSH) referrals. Methods: This was a retrospective study. Data were collected from Brunei electronic records and the clinic records. Results: The rate of DSH among children and adolescent referred was 18.9% and the mean age of DSH cases was 15.2 years. There were statistically significant differences between DSH and non DSH cases with regards to age groups (p = .00001), gender (p = .0012) and diagnoses (p = .00001). There were slightly more females than males involved in DSH behaviours. 73.8% of DSH cases had internalising disorders. More female adolescents than males were involved in cutting. 26.2% and 23.8% of the DSH cases had problems or crisis with parents or other significant family members and relationship problems with boyfriends or girlfriends respectively. Conclusion: DSH is not a rare problem among adolescents in Brunei. It is a problem of girls where most have internalising problems and self-cutting as the main method of DSH.
Keywords: CAMHS, adolescent outpatients, deliberate self-harm, clinic prevalence.
Corresponding author: Abang Bennett. MBBS, MPM, Pg. Dip. Child Adol. Psych, Consultant Psychiatrist, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Psychiatry, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Negara Brunei Darussalam.
Email: tbennet53@yahoo.com
Brunei Int Med J. 2020;16:106-112