Clinical Observations of Self - Inflicted Lesions in Korean Youth

Park, Kyoung Chan

Abstract

A clinical observation of self-inflicted lesions was made during physical examination for conscription in Choongcheongnamdo from May to July, 1980. The result were as follows: 1) The prevalence of self-inflicted lesions was 8. 1% (579/7148). 2) The number of persons with criminal history was 68(ll.7%). 3) The educational level of self-injured was lower than that of non self-injured. 4) Most frequently used tools for self-inflicted lesions were cigarette(72%), knife(19. 9%), rnatch(14.7%) and grass(12.8%) in decreasing order of frequency and only one tool was used in 438 cases(75.6%). 5) The favorite site of self injury were the left forearm(89. 5%), right forearm (19.3%) and left upper arm (5.9%) 6) The average age of first injury was 16. 5 years. 7) The complications of self injury were found in 8. 8% of self-injured and they were hypertrophic scar, keloid, pyoderma and depigmentation. Some degree of hyperpigrnentation and hypopigmentation was found in most of cases. Tattoo was accompanied in 20. 7% of self-injured.