OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the occurrence of behavioral contagion among inpatient adolescent psychiatric patients in terms of past self-harm related behaviors. Our goal was to isolate persistent self-harm behavior from self-harm behavior that could be considered truly contagious. METHOD: We employed 5 years retrospective cohort study design in order to compare the occurrence of self-harm as inpatients among those with and without histories of self-harm behavior. RESULTS: Our results indicate that the spontaneous occurrence of self-harm among inpatients without a history of self-harm is very low. While there appears to be a group that exhibits self-harm as inpatients, the tendency in this group is more towards a reduction of the intensity or a cessation of self-harming behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Contagious self-harm does not appear to be a problem among inpatients with long stays on psychiatric treatment units. The overall tendency among inpatient adolescent psychiatric patients, especially those among those with histories of self-harm behavior is away from self-harming behavior.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the occurrence of behavioral contagion among inpatient adolescent psychiatricpatients in terms of past self-harm related behaviors. Our goal was to isolate persistent self-harm behavior from self-harm behavior that could be considered truly contagious. METHOD: We employed 5 years retrospective cohort study design in order to compare the occurrence of self-harm as inpatients among those with and without histories of self-harm behavior. RESULTS: Our results indicate that the spontaneous occurrence of self-harm among inpatients without a history of self-harm is very low. While there appears to be a group that exhibits self-harm as inpatients, the tendency in this group is more towards a reduction of the intensity or a cessation of self-harming behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Contagious self-harm does not appear to be a problem among inpatients with long stays on psychiatric treatment units. The overall tendency among inpatient adolescent psychiatricpatients, especially those among those with histories of self-harm behavior is away from self-harming behavior.
Authors: T J Taiminen; K Kallio-Soukainen; H Nokso-Koivisto; A Kaljonen; H Helenius Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 1998-02 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: D A Brent; M M Kerr; C Goldstein; J Bozigar; M Wartella; M J Allan Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 1989-11 Impact factor: 8.829