Self-destructive behavior in patients with dissociative disorders.
Highrates of self-injury have been reported in patients with dissociative disorders, yet no prior study has directly compared these patients with other psychiatric patients. The present study assesses self-destructive behavior in a group of inpatients who have dissociative disorders compared to those who report few dissociative symptoms. These patients more frequently engage in self-destructive behaviors, use more methods of self-injury, and begin to injure themselves at an earlier age then patients who do not dissociate. Results have important implications for understanding the relationship between dissociation, childhood trauma, and self-injury and for assessment and treatment of patients with dissociative disorders.
Saxe
Glenn N
GN
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, MA, USA. glenn.saxe@bmc.org
Chawla
Neharika
N
Van der Kolk
Bessel
B
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology