Pediatr. praxi. 2015;16(6):392-394

Self-harm during childhood and adolescence

Mgr.MUDr.Eva Rozsívalová

Psychiatrická léčebna Šternberk

Deliberate self-harm and self-injury is an inappropriate and harmful way of coping with problems. This is a behavioral manifestation

observed during childhood and adolescence. This involves superficial self-cutting, self-immolation, overdosing with medicines or other

chemical substances, self-beating, self-strangulation, wound self-laceration, hair removal and others. Adolescents want to hurt themselves

and stay alive. They hide the self-harm consequences, the process itself is more important than the result during which he experiences

craving, arousal increase, its depletion and alleviation associated with the need of recurrence. The therapy makes use of the possibility

of influencing serotonergic, dopaminergic and opioid receptors. Of importance is psychotherapy which combines the possibility of

a parallel course of an individual or group psychotherapy, diary writing, possibility of contacting a therapist via a telephone in a crisis,

and providing support for parents.

Keywords: deliberate self-harm, coping strategies, dissociation, craving

Published: December 1, 2015  Show citation