Frequency and pattern of self-injurious behavior in children with intellectual disability presenting at a tertiary care hospital, Karachi Pakistan

Objective: To determine the frequency and pattern of self-injurious behavior in children with intellectual disability presenting in a tertiary care hospital at Karachi, Pakistan. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2021 at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi. A total of 108 children who met the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder, 5th edition criteria for intellectual disability were included in the study. An interviewer administered structured pro-forma was used to investigate the patterns, types, circumstances, and measures of self-injurious behavior in children with intellectual disabilities. Descriptive analysis, student dependent t -test, chi-square test was performed to evaluate the outcomes. Results: Out of 108 children, 58 (53.4%) had self-injurious behavior, with 39 (67.2%) being boys and 19 (32.8%) being girls. Self-hitting and self-biting were reported at higher frequencies, with 45 (41.7%) and 30 (27.8%) occurrences respectively, among all reported self-injurious behaviors. Conclusion: Over half of the children with intellectual disabilities had self-injurious behavior, a clinical condition that can produce serious medical consequences and significantly impair functioning. Therefore, it is essential to closely monitor patients with regular follow-ups.