Mental disorders common in teen girls who self-cut: study

(Quality Health) UPDATED 2009-06-25

Teen girls who engage in self-cutting are more prone to mental disorders such as major depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders, according to a new study. For their study, investigators examined data on 4205 community teens, including 80 who reported current self-cutting. Overall, 79 percent of the 41 self-cutting females had mental disorders, compared with 21 percent of control subjects. At least two psychiatric diagnoses were found in 42 percent of female self-cutters and in seven percent of control subjects. Only three teen boys reported self-cutting, and none of them had a mental disorder, researchers say. Investigators say their findings suggest that whenever a teen is found to engage in self-cutting, doctors should perform a psychiatric assessment to provide for further treatment of possible mental disorders. Read full story >

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