title: [Symptom complex, prevalence of trauma and body image of psychiatric patients with self-injury behavior].
abstract: Within the group of in-patients the patients exhibiting self-injurious behavior (SIB) have a significantly more disturbed body image--as assessed by the Holtzman Inkblot Technique (HIT)--than the patients who do not have this symptomatology. The more disturbed the body image, the higher the frequency of SIB. The method of self-injury most frequently reported is cutting the skin of the extremities, followed by burning the skin with cigarettes or open flames. This behavior serves the purpose of alleviating diffuse internal tension, of directing aggression inward, i.e. toward the self, and of terminating depersonalization states. During the act of self-mutilation, the perception of pain is lessened appreciably or inactivated. 48 percent of the female patients in this group suffered sexual abuse during childhood.
authors.affiliation: Psychotherapie und Tagesklinik, Akutpsychiatrie II, Fachklinik für Psychiatrie NLKH Göttingen.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tameling
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sachsse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006698:Holtzman Inkblot Test; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*