Self harm with and without suicidal intent at age 16 years were strongly associated with later depression and anxiety disorder at age 18 years and with future episodes of self harm at age 21 years (table 2). Compared with those who had never self harmed, non-suicidal self harm was associated with a more than twofold increase in the odds of depression and anxiety disorder, and suicidal self harm with a fivefold increase in odds. Associations were particularly strong for future episodes of self harm (non-suicidal self harm odds ratio 4.60, 95% confidence interval 3.23 to 6.54 and suicidal self harm 12.6, 8.91 to 17.8). All outcomes were more strongly associated with suicidal self harm than with non-suicidal self harm (odds ratio range 2.04-2.74). After adjustment for socioeconomic position and previous symptoms of depression at age 13 years, there was little attenuation in results.
