Self-mutilating behaviour of psychiatric inpatients

Abstract

In the present study two broad hypotheses about the origins of self-mutilation in psychiatric patients were evaluated. The first hypothesis states that self-mutilation originates from child abuse and experiences of neglect and is connected to dissociation in later life. The second hypothesis views self-mutilation as the consequence of impulse control problems. To test these two hypotheses, data concerning traumatic childhood experiences and dissociative symptoms (hypothesis 1), as well as data concerning aggressiveness, obsessive-compulsiveness and sensation seeking (hypothesis 2) were collected in a sample of 54 psychiatric inpatients. Twenty-four out of 54 patients (44%) reported having engaged in self-mutilation. Mean age of onset of this behaviour was 23 years. Self-report measures of self-mutilators were more in line with the first than with the second hypothesis. That is, patients who engaged in self-mutilation reported more traumatic childhood experiences and dissociative symptoms than did control patients. The two groups did not differ in terms of aggressiveness, obsessive-compulsiveness, and sensation seeking. In line with earlier studies, the current results indicate that self-mutilating behaviour is linked to a history of abuse and neglect.

Characteristics and Development of Nonsuicidal Super Self-Injury Among Borderline Inpatients

“…While the onset of NSSI among moderate self-injurers most commonly occurred in late adolescence (18 years), among the super self-injurers it occurred 4 years earlier, in early adolescence (14 years). The most common methods of NSSI in both groups were cutting, scratching and self-hitting which is consistent with the findings of previous studies (Shearer 1994, Briere & Gil 1998, Nijman et al 1999). In addition to the most common methods, a wide range of NSSI were reported by both groups (burning, biting, head-banging, hair-pulling, nail-biting, using needles).…”

“…Patients who start NSSI at a very young age report more episodes and a longer duration of self-injury, continuing into adulthood (Dubo et al 1997, Zanarini et al 2006); however, the prevalence of episodes of NSSI declines significantly over the lifetime (Sansone & Wiederman 2014, Zanarini et al 2008, Zanarini et al 2013). The most frequent methods of NSSI reported by borderline patients are cutting, hitting self/object and burning (Briere & Gil 1998, Nijman et al 1999, Shearer 1994. Patients who report more NSSI engage in more severe forms of this behavior, such as head-banging or bone-breaking (Nixon et al 2002).…”

Subgroups of Adolescent Girls With Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms

“…In a large mixed (inpatient and outpatient) sample, 21% of individuals identified themselves as self-injurers (Briere & Gil, 1998). Another study consisting of adult inpatients (n=54) found that 44% reported a history of self-injury (Nijman et al, 1999). Only one study was identified examining the prevalence of NSSI in clinical adolescent samples.…”

Dissociative experiences and interrogative suggestibility in college students

“…PII: S 0 1 9 1 -8 8 6 9 ( 9 9 ) 0 0 2 6 0 -3 www.elsevier.com/locate/paid against traumatic memories (e.g., Ross, 1997). Support for this view comes from studies that found a connection between high levels of dissociation and self-reports of traumatic childhood events (e.g., Sanders & Giolas, 1991;Nijman et al, 1999). In order to measure the degree to which participants experience dissociative phenomena, the majority of these studies relied on the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES; Bernstein, & Putnam, 1986).…”