Citation

Sansone RA, Chu J, Wiederman MW. Clin. Psychol. Psychother. 2007; 14(5): 352-357.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/cpp.528

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In this study, we surveyed 113 women psychiatric inpatients with regard to histories of intimate-partner violence and six self-harm behaviours related to the intentional damage of one's body (e.g., cutting, hitting, scratching self). Multiple regression analysis revealed that a history of domestic violence was a statistically significant predictor of bodily self-harm even after controlling for age and having ever been married. Among some victims of domestic violence, this statistical relationship may indicate an underlying common psychodynamic theme such as a high threshold for body maltreatment and/or low body esteem. Regardless, these data suggest that mental health clinicians need to explore among women victims of intimate-partner violence the presence of self-initiated bodily self-harm. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.