Abstract
Background. This article presents the results of an audit of self-harming across three women's units over a period of 6 years. All three units use a positive risk-taking approach to self-harm whereby the risk that this behaviour presents is considered in an effort to reduce actual harm.
Aims. To explore patterns and frequency of self-harm across three units within a women's service.
Method. Incidents of deliberate self-harm were collected from incident forms completed across the units from 2004 to 2009.
Results. Frequency graphs show a reduction of self-harm over the course of admission, and parametric analyses show that there was a significant difference in the frequency of self-harm during the first and last 3 months of admission.
Conclusions. These results are discussed within a psychoanalytical framework, with particular reference to relational security and the value of positive risk-taking.
Acknowledgements
The third author, is a member of the NICE Guideline Development Group for Self-harm longer term management. The views expressed in this article are that of the author, not those of the NICE group.
Declaration of interest:
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.