Psychiatric Bulletin (1996) 20: 367-368. doi: 10.1192/pb.20.6.367
© 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Methods of deliberate self-harm in Pakistan
Murad Moosa Khan, Assistant Professor* and
Hashim Reza, Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry, The Aga Khan University Hospital, PO Box 3500, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
* Correspondence
Reports of deliberate self-harm (DSH) are rare from Pakistan where psychotropic drugs can be obtained over the counter. A retrospective analysis of 382 index cases presenting to a university hospital in Karachi showed self-poisoning with benzodiazepines as the most common method, followed by organophosphate insecticides. Salicylates and non-opiate analgesics were significantly absent from our series. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists.