Psychological evaluation of self-inflicted burn patients: suicide or parasuicide?

Burns. 2005 Mar;31(2):178-81. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2004.09.019.

Abstract

Self-inflicted burns have an increasing incidence all around the world. There is a high mortality and morbidity rate among these patients. We retrospectively analysed the psychiatric characteristics of self-inflicted burn patients. The results showed that these attempts are somewhat different from suicidal acts and may be defined as parasuicides. The treatment and rehabilitation strategies of so called parasuicidal burns are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Surface Area
  • Burns / complications
  • Burns / mortality
  • Burns / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / complications
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / complications
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / mortality
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / psychology*
  • Smoke Inhalation Injury / mortality
  • Smoke Inhalation Injury / psychology
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology*