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  • Title: Pubertal stage and deliberate self-harm in adolescents.
    Author: Patton GC, Hemphill SA, Beyers JM, Bond L, Toumbourou JW, McMORRIS BJ, Catalano RF.
    Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry; 2007 Apr; 46(4):508-514. PubMed ID: 17420686.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the association between pubertal stage and deliberate self-harm. METHOD: Cross-sectional survey of 12- to 15-year-olds in 300 secondary schools in the U.S. state of Washington in February-April 2002 and the Australian state of Victoria in June-August 2002. A total of 3,332 students in grades 7 and 9 provided complete data on episodes of deliberate self-harm in the previous 12 months and pubertal stage. Pubertal stage was assessed with the Pubertal Development Scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of deliberate self-harm was 3.7% with a more than twofold higher rate in females. Late puberty was associated with a more than fourfold higher rate of self-harm (odds ratio 4.6, 95% confidence interval 1.5-14) after adjustment for age and school grade level. In contrast age had a protective association (odds ratio 0.7, confidence interval 0.4-1.0). The sharpest rises in prevalence across puberty were for self-laceration and self-poisoning in females. Higher rates of depressive symptoms, frequent alcohol use, and initiation of sexual activity largely accounted for the association between self-harm and pubertal stage in multivariate models. CONCLUSIONS: Puberty is associated with changes in the form and frequency of self-harm. For adolescents with a gap between puberty and brain development, risk factors such as early sexual activity and substance abuse may be particularly potent.
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