Self-mutilation and contagion: an empirical test.
Twenty-five subjects treated at a center for disturbed adolescents were observed over a 1-year period for signs of self-mutilative contagion. Statistical analysis confirmed that self-mutilation occurred in clusters throughout the year, suggesting that subjects imitated one another's behavior.
D000293:Adolescent; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology