Relations Between Impulsivity, Aggression and Self-harm in Inpatients of an Open Psychiatry Ward

Abstract

Introduction: aggression and self-harm are often encountered in daily clinical routines. A better understanding of these behaviors is important. Objectives: We investigated with self-report measures the kind of relationship between aggression, impulsivity, self-harm, suicide attempts and third party observation of staff. We Aimed at analyzing whether there is a relation between: impulsivity, self-harm aggression (self report measures) and similar reported behavior by third party observations of staff. Methods: patients were assessed using the Barrett-Impulsivity-Scale (BIS-15), the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), the Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (QNSSI). Recent patient health records were analyzed for aggression, self-harm and suicide attempts. Results: N=34; 12 male, 22 female; mean age: 45.26 sd.: 9.54. Recent suicide attempts (RSA) N=7 and impulsivity were not significantly related (U= 90, p=.87), also recent self-harm (RSH) N=9 and impulsivity (U= 112 p=. 984) showed no relationship on a statistically significant level. Statistically significant correlations were found between the AQ sum scale and impulsivity (r=.38 p=.027) and for the AQ subscales: anger (r= .34 p= .049) and physical aggression (r= .36 p= .04). Verbal aggression was also significantly correlated to impulsivity (r= .342, p= .048). Surprisingly no sex differences could be found for AQ and BIS-15. Recent self-harm and recent suicide attempts were not significantly correlated to any of the scales. Conclusions: Aggressive behavior coincides with impulsivity whereas self-harm and suicide attempts are not related to self-harming behavior in psychiatric inpatients.