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The psychopathology of incarcerated self-mutilators
J Haines1, C L Williams, K L Brain
1Department of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Australia.
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.
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