A Comparative Study of the Management of Cases of Deliberate Self-Harm in a District General Hospital

A controlled study was undertaken of 2 services assessing & managing cases of deliberate self-harm; the 1st featured psychiatrists only & the 2nd included psychiatric social workers. Few significant differences were found to have existed between the clients of the 2 services at initial assessment & there were no apparent differences in factors intervening between initial assessment & follow-up. Analysis indicated clients do benefit substantially from the addition of a psychiatric social worker.