Adverse Childhood Experiences and Hospital-Treated Self-Harm

Seonaid Cleare, Karen Wetherall, Andrea Clark, Caoimhe Ryan, Olivia J. Kirtley, Michael Smith and Rory C. O’Connor
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Seonaid Cleare: Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH, UK
Karen Wetherall: Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH, UK
Andrea Clark: Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH, UK
Caoimhe Ryan: School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, South St, St Andrews KY16 9JP, UK
Olivia J. Kirtley: Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Michael Smith: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Commonwealth House, 32 Albion Street, Glasgow G1 1LH, UK
Rory C. O’Connor: Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH, UK

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been implicated in a range of negative health outcomes in adulthood, including increased suicide mortality. In this study, we explored the relationship between ACEs and hospital-treated self-harm. Specifically, we investigated whether those who had a history of repeat self-harm reported more ACEs than those who had self-harmed for the first time. Patients ( n = 189) admitted to two hospitals in Glasgow (UK) following first-time ( n = 41) or repeated ( n = 148) self-harm completed psychosocial measures. Univariate analyses revealed that those presenting with repeat self-harm reported higher depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, intent to die, and ACEs, and lower dependent attachment style. However, only ACEs, along with female gender and depressive symptoms, significantly differentiated between the repeat self-harm group and the first-time self-harm group in the multivariate model. Controlling for all other psychosocial variables, participants who reported 4+ ACEs were significantly more likely to be in the repeat self-harm group as compared to those who experienced 0–3 ACEs. This finding highlights the pernicious effect of exposure to multiple ACEs. Further research is urgently required to better understand the mechanisms that explain this relationship. Clinicians should be aware of the extent of the association between ACEs and repeat self-harm.

Keywords: suicidal behaviour; self-harm; risk factors; adverse childhood experiences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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