Tattoos, scars, body adornment and dishevelment in an acute psychiatric population

Abstract

Ninety-six successive acute psychiatric admissions were assessed with regard to dress, level of hygiene, the presence of tattoos, bodily piercing/decoration and surface marks of self-harm. These features were also examined in relation to ICD-10 category diagnosis. One-third were described as 'dishevelled', 21% 'unclean', 7% had multiple pierced ears and 3% other pierced body parts. Sixteen per cent had tattoos, rising to 34% in the F10-19 (substance misuse) category, and 15% had scars of self-harm. People with schizophrenia and related disorders were more likely to present in an unclean state. Those with personality disorders were no more likely to bear the scars of self-harm, tattoos or body piercing.

Tattoos: what is their significance?

“…One large uncontrolled survey (Ferguson-Rayport 1955) of first-time admissions to a psychiatric hospital found the overall prevalence rate of tattoos to be 16%, a finding subsequently replicated by Gittleson (1969), which found the prevalence rate to be 15%. A more recent study (Williams 1998) of psychiatric admissions found an overall prevalence rate of 16%. Psychiatric in-patients with tattoos appear to have a more chaotic and deprived upbringing than nontattooed controls.…”

“…Evidence of a relationship between tattoos and psychiatric disorders comes from studies of psychiatric pathology in tattooed individuals in non-psychiatric settings (Lander 1943;Measey 1972) and of tattooed psychiatric populations (Ferguson-Rayport 1955;Gittleson 1969;Raspa 1990;Inch 1993;Williams 1998). Both types of study report higher rates of alcoholism, drug misuse, impulsivity, risk-taking behaviour and personality disorders in both men and women (Lander 1943;Post 1968;Measey 1972;Buhrich 1982;Raspa 1990;Inch 1993).…”

“…The prevalence of tattoos in psychiatric populations is higher than in general populations and ranges from 15 to 39% (Lander 1943;Ferguson-Rayport 1955;Gittleson 1969Gittleson , 1973Williams 1998). One large uncontrolled survey (Ferguson-Rayport 1955) of first-time admissions to a psychiatric hospital found the overall prevalence rate of tattoos to be 16%, a finding subsequently replicated by Gittleson (1969), which found the prevalence rate to be 15%.…”

“…A study by Williams (1998) reported that only 5% of women admitted to a psychiatric hospital had a tattoo. Gittleson (1969) found only two female patients with tattoos among 938 female admissions to a psychiatric hospital, both exhibiting disturbed personalities.…”

“…Tattooed individuals have higher rates of drug misuse and dependence (Buhrich 1982;Williams 1998). One small study (Borokhov 2006) found that it was not uncommon for individuals misusing drugs to acquire tattoos either generally or specifically related to the drug misuse; for example, a tattoo in the cubital fossa indicating the spot where the injection is commonly made, to hide scars of sclerosed veins, or a tattoo of a syringe, poppy or marihuana plant.…”