Citation

Haines J, Williams CL, Brain KL. Can. J. Psychiatry 1995; 40(9): 514-522.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Canadian Psychiatric Association, Publisher SAGE Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8574986

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the symptomatology of severe psychopathology reported by male incarcerated self-multilators. METHOD: Comparisons were made with a nonmutilating incarcerated group and a nonincarcerated, nonmutilator group. RESULTS: A distinctive pattern of symptomatology emerged. Self-mutilators evidenced a wide range of elevated scores on general measures of psychological/psychiatric symptoms, particularly depression and hostility. Aspects of hostility that distinguished self-mutilators for other groups included the urge to act out hostile feelings, critical feelings towards others, paranoid feelings of hostility and guilt. Self-mutilators demonstrated substantial problems with substance abuse, particularly alcohol. CONCLUSION: A pattern of passive-aggressive, schizoid and avoidant personality styles distinguished self-mutilators from other groups.

Language: en