CONTAGION OF DELIBERATE SELF-HARM AMONG ADOLESCENT INPATIENTS

Objective: To explore the quantitative importance and clinical feature s of deliberate self-harm (DSH) contagion in a closed adolescent psych iatric unit. Method: The authors investigated with statistical methods and a sociogram whether acts of DSH were clustered during a 12-month study period. Twelve subjects were involved in acts of DSH, and their mean length of hospitalization-during the study period was about 90 da ys. Six adolescents with four or more contagion incidents were intervi ewed. Results: DSH incidents were clustered during the study period (p < .05). Most DSH incidents were skin cutting committed by depressed f emale subjects with borderline personality disorder. The majority of D SH contagion can be understood in terms of small-group rites for feeli ngs of togetherness. Conclusions: Even a majority of DSH events in clo sed adolescent units may be triggered by contagion, and DSH can spread to previously DSH-naive adolescents.