Self-mutilation and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder.
The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between self-mutilation and symptoms of depression and anxiety in a nonclinical population. Self-mutilators reported significantly more symptoms of depression and anxiety than did the control group. When the group of self-mutilators was divided into individuals who cut themselves and individuals who harm themselves in other ways, we found that the between-group differences were primarily due to individuals with a history of cutting. Yet when symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) were statistically controlled, all significant between-group differences in depressive and anxious symptoms were reduced to nonsignificant. These findings highlight the importance of assessing symptoms of BPD in self-mutilators, regardless of diagnosis.
Andover
Margaret S
MS
Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, NJ 13902, USA. mandove0@binghamton.edu
Pepper
Carolyn M
CM
Ryabchenko
Karen A
KA
Orrico
Elizabeth G
EG
Gibb
Brandon E
BE
D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires