Objective: To investigate the symptomatology of severe psychopathology reported by male incarcerated self-mutilators. 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 from other groups included the urge to act out hostile feelings, critical feelings towards others, paranoid feelings of hostility and guilt. Selfmutilators 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.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
Research Group:	Psychology
Research Field:	Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Other Health
Objective Field:	Health not elsewhere classified
Author:	Haines, J (Dr Janet Haines)
Author:	Williams, CL (Dr Christopher Williams)
Author:	Brain, KL (Ms Brain)
ID Code:	4520
Year Published:	1995
Web of Science® Times Cited:	20
Deposited By:	Psychology
Deposited On:	1995-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-08-24
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