Observational studyThe American journal of emergency medicine2022
Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on self-harm and violence among patients presenting to the emergency department.
Observational study in The American journal of emergency medicine, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- A systematic review of infectious disease outbreaks and violence against women and girls: changes in magnitude, mechanisms and lessons for the future.BMJ global health · 2026Pooled it
- The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on Self-Harm: A Meta-Analysis.Alpha psychiatry · 2025Pooled it
- Global prevalence of self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC psychology · 2023Pooled it
- Global, regional, and national characteristics of the main causes of increased disease burden due to the covid-19 pandemic: time-series modelling analysis of global burden of disease study 2021.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2025Article
- Pattern of adult psychiatric emergencies at a tertiary care center before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.Indian journal of psychiatry · 2024Article
- Symptomatic, Alexithymic, and Suicidality-Related Features in Groups of Adolescent Self-Harmers: A Case-Control Study.European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education · 2023Article
- Violence Against Women During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study from a Turkish Emergency Department.Prehospital and disaster medicine · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
importanceConsidering the resurgence of COVID19 and the rapid spread of new and deadlier strains across the globe understanding the incidence and pattern of violence and self harm tendencies during this period might help in formulating better contingency plans for future lockdowns. A deeper look at the available data shows that there is a significant dearth of research into self-harm & violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
objectiveTo identify the incidence and sociodemographic characteristics of self-harm and violence during the COVID19 lockdown and compare with a control group from the previous year.
designA cross-sectional retrospective observational study.
settingTertiary care teaching hospital.
participantsAll patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with self harm and violence during the COVID-19 lockdown period between March 24-June 30, 2020 and March 24-June 30, 2019. EXPOSURE: The COVID-19 lockdown period. MAIN OUTCOME (S) AND MEASURE (S): The hypothesis being tested was formulated before the study. The null hypothesis tested was a decline in number of self-harm and violence cases during the lockdown.
resultsA total of 828 patients were analysed over both the time periods, out of which 30% (248) were females while 70% (580) were males. Increases in self-harm and violence were 12.71% and 95.32% respectively per 1000 ED admissions. A significant correlation was found between the COVID-19 lockdown and the increased incidence (X2 (1, N = 828) = 9.2, p < .05). An increase of violence by known individuals and between partners was seen. Intimate partner violence also increased to 7%. X2 (3, N = 662) = 21.03, p < .05. In the self harm dataset an increase in mortality, ICU admissions and decision to leave against medical advice was noted (X2 (4, N = 166) = 24.49, p < .05). Increase in the use of alcohol prior to acts of self harm and violence was noted.
conclusionsIncrease in the incidence of cases of self-harm and violence reported to the ED was noted during the lockdown period. Upgradation of health-care and law enforcement infrastructure maybe needed to deal with similar circumstances in a more efficient manner.
trial registrationN/A.
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