Self-mutilating behaviour of psychiatric inpatients.
In the present study two broad hypotheses about the origins of self-mutilation in psychiatric patients were evaluated. The first hypothesis states that self-mutilation originates from child abuse and experiences of neglect and is connected to dissociation in later life. The second hypothesis views self-mutilation as the consequence of impulse control problems. To test these two hypotheses, data concerning traumatic childhood experiences and dissociative symptoms (hypothesis 1), as well as data concerning aggressiveness, obsessive-compulsiveness and sensation seeking (hypothesis 2) were collected in a sample of 54 psychiatric inpatients. Twenty-four out of 54 patients (44%) reported having engaged in self-mutilation. Mean age of onset of this behaviour was 23 years. Self-report measures of self-mutilators were more in line with the first than with the second hypothesis. That is, patients who engaged in self-mutilation reported more traumatic childhood experiences and dissociative symptoms than did control patients. The two groups did not differ in terms of aggressiveness, obsessive-compulsiveness, and sensation seeking. In line with earlier studies, the current results indicate that self-mutilating behaviour is linked to a history of abuse and neglect.
Nijman
H L
HL
Psychiatric Hospital Welterhof, Heerlen, 6401 CX Heerlen, The Netherlands.
Dautzenberg
M
M
Merckelbach
H L
HL
Jung
P
P
Wessel
I
I
del Campo
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires