Abstract
Abstract
French
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. 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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