Psychosocial aspects of adolescents with deliberate self harm and their families

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of social support, the features of deliberate self harm (DSH) behaviors, family functioning and parental well-being in adolescents with self harm referred to psychiatry department and also to detect the association between the act of DSH and the issues above mentioned. Method: 37 cases with DSH in the last year and their 51 parents and 31 controls with any psychopathology and their 47 parents referred to Child and Adolescents Psychiatry Clinic in Dokuz Eylul University Hospital between October 2012 and March 2013 were included. Psychiatric diagnostic interview (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children Lifetime Version- K-SADS-PL), sociodemographic data form, Mc Master Family Assessment Device, Perceived Social Support from Friends and Family Scales- PSS-Fr/Fa were applied to all participants, and Inventory of Statements About Self Injury was applied to the cases with DSH. Mc Master Family Assessment Device and General Health Questionnaire were also applied to all participants?s parents. Results: Cutting was the most common self harm method. Mostly used functions of DSH were affect regulation, self-punishment and self care. The adolescents with DSH and their parents had greater scores in Mc Master Family Assessment Device subscales. The parents of adolescents with DSH had greater ratio 2 and upper scores in GHQ-12. Conclusion: The family functioning of adolescents with DSH was poorer. A significant association was between DSH behaviors and poor family functioning. The parents of adolescents with DSH had more risks in mental health disorders. It is important to interview with parents about family functioning problems and to support parental well-being. Key words: Deliberate self harm behaviors, adolescent, psychosocial aspects