title: The psychopathology of incarcerated self-mutilators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the symptomatology of severe psychopathology reported by male incarcerated self-multilators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparisons were made with a nonmutilating incarcerated group and a nonincarcerated, nonmutilator group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A distinctive pattern of symptomatology emerged. Self-mutilators evidenced a wide range of elevated scores on general measures of psychological/psychiatric symptoms, particularly depression and hostility. Aspects of hostility that distinguished self-mutilators for other groups included the urge to act out hostile feelings, critical feelings towards others, paranoid feelings of hostility and guilt. Self-mutilators demonstrated substantial problems with substance abuse, particularly alcohol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A pattern of passive-aggressive, schizoid and avoidant personality styles distinguished self-mutilators from other groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Brain
mesh_terms: D000184:Acting Out; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006167:Guilt; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment