The Psychophysiology of Repetitive Self-Mutilation

An Exploratory Analysis of Situational Affect, Early Life Stress, and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in College Students

“…Although a number of laboratory investigations have attempted to validate accounts of this type (Brain, Haines, & Williams, 2002;Haines, Williams, Brain, & Wilson, 1995;Nock & Mendes, 2008), only two studies known to the present researchers have used in vivo assessment methods to explore thoughts, emotions, and behaviors associated with NSSI as they occur in real time. Both investigations employed ecological momentary assessment methods to characterize the phenomenology of NSSI acts and associated thoughts and behaviors (Armey, Crowther, & Miller, 2011;Nock, Prinstein, & Sterba, 2009).…”

A Strengths Perspective in Working with an Adolescent with Self-cutting Behaviors

“…Adolescents with self-cutting behaviors have deficits and problems in controlling their emotions (Herpertz et al, 1997;Milligan & Waller, 2001;Suyemoto, 1998), in coping with stress and in reducing their tension (Brain et al, 1998). Self-cutting behaviors are related to the regulation and ventilation of feelings of anger, anxiety and depression (Diclemente et al, 1991).…”

“…Most self-cutting and self-mutilation are repetitive behaviors (Brain, Haines, & Williams, 1998;Briere & Gil, 1998), with some even cutting themselves over 100 times (Gardener & Gardener, 1975;Pao, 1969;Siomorpoulous, 1974). Suyemoto (1998) summed up several perspectives from past literature, including an environmental perspective (Applewhite & Joseph, 1994;Himber, 1994;Paris, 1998;Turell & Armsworth, 2000;Walsh & Rosen, 1988); an anti-suicide perspective (Applewhite & Joseph, 1994;Hirsch, 1998;Pattison & Kahan, 1983;Walsh & Rosen, 1988); a sexual perspective (Burnham, 1969;Podvoll, 1969;Ross & Mckay, 1979); an affect regulation perspective (Brain et al, 1998;Herpertz, Sass, & Favazza, 1997;Milligan & Waller, 2001); a dissociation perspective (Zanarini, Ruser, Frankenburg, & Hennen, 2000). Also, mishandling of self-mutilation and self-cutting by parents or by professionals may provoke further self-cutting (Gardener & Gardener, 1975;Pao, 1969).…”

Adolescent Self-Cutters in Hong Kong

“…It also represents a symbolic self-castration or substitute for masturbation (Ross & Mckay, 1979, p. 51;Burham 1969;Podvoll, 1969). In the affect regulation perspective, self-mutilators have difficulties in regulating their emotions (Suyemoto, 1998;Milligan, & Waller, 2001), in coping with stress (Brain, Haines, & Williams, 1998) and in reducing their tension (Brain, Haines, & Williams, 1998). Self-cuttings are closely related to feelings of anger, anxiety and depression (Diclemente, et al, 1991).…”

“…Some adolescents carve words (Pao, 1969;Simpson, 1980;Ross, & Mckay, 1979). Most self-mutilation and self-cutting are repetitive behaviours (Brain, Haines, & Williams, 1998;Briere, & Gil, 1998). Some even cut over 100 times (Gardner, & Gardner, 1975;Siomopoulos, 1974;Pao, 1969).…”