Frequency, Risk Factors, and Methods of Deliberate Self-Harm Observed in Medical Students and Doctors in Pakistan

Objective: To determine the frequency of deliberate self-harm (DSH), risk factors leading to DSH, and the methods adopted by medical students and young doctors to execute DSH.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on medical college students and young doctors aged 18-26 years. After approval by the parent institute's ethical board, different medical students and doctors from Pakistani medical colleges of both male and female populations were recruited through non-probability sampling. Responses were collected from one to two medical colleges from each province.

Results: A high number of 490 (60.9%) out of 805 participants reported a history of at least one form of self-harm. Forty-four participants (0.05%) reported having attempted suicide in the past. The mean scores for the self-harm inventory scale were 2.51±3.25, the self-esteem scale 26.51±4.43, and the social support scale 23.1±6.96. Smoking, recreational drug use, History of mental illness, and family history of mental illness were significantly associated with increased odds of self-harm in medical students. On adjusted binary logistic regression, female gender, harmonious relationship with parents, satisfaction with the result, social support, and higher self-esteem were protective against deliberate self-harm.

Conclusion: DSH is a critical issue among medical students and is becoming prevalent. Higher odds of DSH are associated with smoking and recreational drug use. Higher self-esteem and better social support are protective against DSH.