Self- Harm among Severe Psychiatric Patients with or Without Revolving Door Phenomenon: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The term “revolving door phenomenon” defines as recurrent hospitalizations of subgroup populations of chronically mentally ill patients in psychiatric units due to higher risk of self- harm or unmanageable behavioural patterns. Self- harm is commonly used by mental health professionals as an extensive range of behaviors that may or may not be related to suicide in which there is a deliberate infliction of injury, pain and/or poisoning to self. This type of self- harm in patients with severe psychiatric illness is a major risk factor for self injuries leading them to readmissions and re-hospitalizations. The primary aim of the present study was to assess the level of self- harm among severe psychiatric patients with or without revolving door phenomenon. A cross-sectional two- group design was employed for the present study. A sample of 150 (75 patients with revolving door phenomenon, 75 patients without revolving door phenomenon) was administered Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury (ISAS) developed by Klonsky (2007). Data was analyzed using t-test. Results indicated that patients with revolving door phenomenon had reported more self- harm than patients without revolving door phenomenon suggesting that due to marked distress and self- punishing behaviour the patients with revolving door phenomena showed more serious self- harm behaviour, such as cutting, burning and biting etc. The implications of the study are discussed.