Scales for predicting risk following self-harm: an observational study in 32 hospitals in England.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the extent to which risk scales were used for the assessment of self-harm by emergency department clinicians and mental health staff, and to examine the association between the use of a risk scale and measures of service quality and repeat self-harm within 6 months.

Design

Observational study.

Setting

A stratified random sample of 32 hospitals in England.

Participants

6442 individuals presenting with self-harm to 32 hospital services during a 3-month period between 2010 and 2011.

Outcomes

21-item measure of service quality, repeat self-harm within 6 months.

Results

A variety of different risk assessment tools were in use. Unvalidated locally developed proformas were the most commonly used instruments (reported in n=22 (68.

SUBMITTER: Quinlivan L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4025469 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature