Audifax KPENO, Twinkle ROUT
Anatolian Journal of Mental Health - 2026;3(1):1-24
Background: Deliberate self-harm poses a significant risk to both physical and psychological health. The behaviour occurs across age groups, with young adults being the most frequently affected. The aim of this research was to ascertain whether there was any association among Schizophrenia, Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD) and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with Deliberate Self Harm (DSH) among patients who reported at the psychiatry unit of the study setting and diagnosed with these conditions. Methodology: The cross-sectional study employed a census approach in arriving at a sample population of 66. The participants were assessed through an interview using two instruments; Non-suicidal self-injury Assessment Tool (NSSI-AT) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) to ascertain acts of self-harm and presence of schizophrenia respectively. The results were analysed using frequencies and percentages; Chi-square was employed to assess the associations between the mental health conditions, correlation analysis explored the relationship between PANSS scores and self-harm behaviour. Results: A significant association was found between sex and diagnosis, with males having a higher prevalence of schizophrenia with a statistical significance of (p=0.004). Schizophrenia was found to be common, accounting for 59.09% of cases in the sample. Disorganized thinking and delusions are more prevalent in Schizophrenia (61.5%) compared to BPAD (20.8%) and ADHD (0.0%), but not statistically significant (p = 0.16). Conclusion: Schizophrenia shows an association with DSH rather than the other two psychiatric conditions. Psychiatric and personality disorders are profound in DSH and this underscores the need for proper assessment and diagnosis to support individuals and improve their quality of life.
