Self-burning versus self-cutting: patterns and implications of self-mutilation; a preliminary study of differences between self-cutting and self-burning in a Japanese juvenile detention center.
The purpose of the present paper was to examine the differences in clinical features between self-cutters and self-burners, to clarify clinical implications of self-mutilating behaviors other than self-cutting. Subjects were 201 delinquent adolescents consecutively entering a Japanese juvenile detention center from February 2003 to March 2003. The subjects were assessed using a self-reporting questionnaire to evaluate self-mutilation, traumatic events, and problematic behaviors. Beck Depression Inventory-2 (BDI-2) and Adolescent Dissociative Experience Scale (A-DES) were also tested. Subjects were classified into four groups according to self-mutilating behaviors: non-self-cutting or -burning (NSCB), self-cutting (SC), self-burning (SB), and self-cutting and self-burning (SCB). The questionnaire answers and scores of the BDI-2 and A-DES were compared between the four groups. Of 201 subjects, 33 (16.4%) had cut their wrists or forearms at least once, and 72 of 201 (35.8%) had burned themselves at least once. The SC and SCB group had traumatic events, problematic behavior, and various types of self-mutilating behavior more frequently than the other two groups. The SCB group reported additional types of self-mutilating behavior more than the SC group. The SCB group also experienced multiple body customizations compared to the SC group, and exhibited higher scores on the BDI-2 and A-DES than the other three groups. The self-burning without self-cutting may have limited clinical implications. However, the self-burning with self-cutting may suggest depression and dissociation, as well as possible indication of self-mutilating behavior.
Matsumoto
Toshihiko
T
Department of Psychiatry, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan. tmatsu@ncnp-k.go.jp
Yamaguchi
Akiko
A
Chiba
Yasuhiko
Y
Asami
Takeshi
T
Iseki
Eizo
E
Hirayasu
Yoshio
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011599:Psychopathology; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology