ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the different demographic and social factors predisposing to deliberate self harm in young (15 – 24 years) and elderly (45-74 years) people and compare. Method: Consecutive cases of Deliberate self harm attending Psychiatry OPD and admitted to Medical, Surgical and Psychiatric wards of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital were studied. Demographic history was taken both from patient and family members. For social factors two scales were used – Modified Kuppuswamy’s socioeconomic rating scale for urban people and Pareekh’s scale for rural people. Results: Demographic factors- In the present study some factors were found to be same but certain factors were found to be significantly different in these two age groups. In young age group females outnumbered males by a ratio of 3.8:1, whereas in elderly group number of females was less than males-ratio 1:2.1 In both groups Hindus were most common; most people came from urban area and studied up to secondary level. In young group most male people were self employed or students whereas elderly males were mostly in service or self employed workers, rest were retired. Most females in both groups were housewives. In young group 54.1% were single, rest were married. In elderly group all were married, but 12% were separated or divorced, widow or widower. In both groups most people came from small (member<5) nuclear family. Socioeconomic status: In both groups most people were from social class IV. Conclusion- Apart from age and sex composition there is not much difference in sociodemographic profile between young and elderly DSH patients. The difference found in marital status and occupation was probably due to their age difference.