Intentional self‐injury in school age children

This paper reports a study of 50 school age children, who had attempted self‐harm and been referred consecutively to the Psychiatric Department of a Teaching Children's Hospital. In addition to this detailed study of these children and their families, comparison is made with other studies of young people who had attempted self‐harm. The study shows a high incidence of children from families of above average size, and from one‐parent families often with a sick or absentee father. Unemployment was high amongst fathers or breadwinners. Economic difficulties were common. Also shown is a high level of sickness in adults of the family, a high level of psychiatric morbidity in first‐degree relatives, and a relatively high occurrence of incidents of self‐harm in family members. Anti‐social behaviour was not uncommon amongst children of first‐degree relatives. Problems of management are discussed, particularly those arising since they are still of school age and, therefore, both legally and economically dependent upon their families. The consequence in terms of the calls made upon the resources of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Departments, and the need for skilled interaction with the Educational and Social Services, is emphasised.