Self-cutting and sexual risk among adolescents in intensive psychiatric treatment.
The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships between self-cutting, sexual abuse, and psychological variables in predicting infrequent condom use among 293 adolescents in intensive psychiatric treatment. Logistic regression analyses indicated that being female, being Caucasian, having been sexually abused, and reporting less impulse control were predictive of self-cutting. Further analysis found that those who self-cut were three and a half times more likely to report infrequent condom use than those who did not self-cut, even after the analysis controlled for sexual abuse history and HIV prevention self-efficacy. Self-cutting is strongly associated with sexual risk behaviors, and adolescents who engage in self-cutting should be assessed carefully for sexual risk behaviors.
Brown
Larry K
LK
Rhode Island Hospital, Department of Psychiatry at Brown University Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. lkbrown@lifespan.org
Houck
Christopher D
CD
Hadley
Wendy S
WS
Lescano
Celia M
CM
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000298:Adolescent, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003422:Critical Care; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*