FOOD INTOLERANCE NETWORK FACTSHEET
Self-harm
Self-harm (Deliberate Self-Harm, DSE) is defined as intentionally
injuring your own body without suicidal intent, most commonly by cutting,
hitting or burning.
Although previously
considered to be associated with severe mental illnesses, the rate of self-harm
behavior is now known to be more common among the general population and seems
to be increasing in younger generations. A recent study found that about one
third of college students have engaged in some form of self-harm behavior in
their lifetime. It has generally been suggested that self-harm is related to
childhood abuse but some studies have not found that link.
From our point of view,
self-harm is just one of many similar childhood problems such as head-banging,
restless legs syndrome and asthma that have increased since the 1970s. In our
experience, self-harm can be a side-effect of both medications and food
chemicals and can improve dramatically on the elimination diet.
Effects of medications
In 2003, the UK Medicines
and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) set up an expert panel to
review the safety and efficacy of antidepressants such as Prozac (known as
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs), starting with their use in
under-18s. By December, it had banned all the SSRIs except Prozac for this age
group, citing poor evidence of efficacy and a raised risk of self-harm and
suicidal thoughts.
From the Medical Journals
Klonsky ED, Oltmanns TF,
Turkheimer E. Deliberate self-harm in a nonclinical population: prevalence and
psychological correlates. Am J Psychiatry 2003;160(8):1501-8. free full text at
www.pubmed.com for an overview of
self-harm
There are no reports in the
medical literature of a link between self-harm and food intolerance.
[455] Diet diary of a six year old self-harmer (September
2006)
My 6 ½ year old son, Tim
(not his real name) is currently undergoing investigation of mixed depressive
disorder with anxiety and obsessive ruminations. We have used failsafe in the
past with one of our other children, but had not ever thought of foods being
linked to Tim’s mood problems. When you mention a “gifted and depressed” child
at your recent talk my ears immediately pricked up and took note. Tim has been
identified as highly gifted and everyone has been saying that is the cause of
his problems but I have always felt there was something else underlying that
was contributing. We will be contacting our GP today and hopefully starting the
elimination diet as soon as possible.
2 weeks later…
Just wanted to let you
know, we are all amazed at our son's improvement over the last two weeks. I
have been in contact with the dietitian you recommended, she is lovely and very
supportive. We will be starting the "proper" 3 week elimination diet
on the weekend after the school camp (couldn't manage that one!) But I wanted
to tell you also that even my GP has taken to your book for herself and her
family. She is raving about it!
2 months later …
Since starting the
elimination diet Tim has not self harmed once! He is much calmer and has
noticed this in himself. He no longer seems to be as restless and has been
falling asleep easily at a reasonable time in the evenings. We started with the
salicylate challenge this week and there seemed to be no reaction, until day
5/6 when we started to notice his behaviour was getting worse. We will stop
this challenge tonight and wait to try some other groups. His GP and Clinical
Psychologist are both thrilled with the change as well! …
One week later ….
After I emailed you we
finally had the BIG reaction we were looking for. It happened on Day 7 of the
salicylate challenge - we had already stopped the challenge that morning. Tim
went to bed as normal then began to write swear words all over his bed, his
sheets and his body. ("I was angry with you because I couldn't fall
asleep") This is the behaviour and obsessive ruminations this poor boy was
experiencing on a daily basis before the elimination diet, which we have not
seen until this challenge.
See also the following
factsheets: Depression Head-banging
The information given is not intended as
medical advice. Always consult with your doctor for underlying illness. Before
beginning dietary investigation, consult a dietician with an interest in food
intolerance. You can find a supportive dietitian through the Dietitians
Association of
© Sue Dengate update September 2006
