Is the reported increase in young female hospital-treated intentional self-harm real or artefactual?

CONCLUSION:: There was no indication from the sentinel unit data of any increase in rates of intentional self-poisoning for young females. The sentinel and state rates were higher than the national rates, demonstrating the possible magnitude of underestimation of the national data. The reported increases in national rates of hospital-treated self-harm among young females might be due to artefactual factors, such as changes in clinical practice (greater proportion admitted), improved administrative coding of suicidal behaviours or possibly increased hospital presentations of community self-injury cases, but not intentional self-poisoning. A national system of sentinel units is needed for the accurate and timely monitoring of all hospital-treated self-harm. PMID: 30518227 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Rural Remote Health - Category: Rural Health Authors: Tags: Aust N Z J Psychiatry Source Type: research