Deliberate self-burning in Mazandaran, Iran

The authors in a prospective descriptive study, via a demographic questionnaire, semi-structured interview and/or psychological autopsy examined 318 cases of self-burning in Mazandaran, Iran during 3 years. The average age was 27 years and 83% of them were female. Most of them were married, home makers and with high school education. Sixty-two percent had an impulsive suicidal intention. The major motive was marital conflict. Ninety-five percent had a psychiatric diagnosis-mostly adjustment disorder and 30% had a chronic physical illness. Mortality rate was 79%. High prevalence of self-burning in the young population, the pattern of demographic factors, their motivations and high prevalence of adjustment disorders highlights the need for making preventive measures, which should be focused on family structure, particularly in relation to marriage. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.