Vulnerability Scale Scores in Female Inpatients Diagnosed with Self-Injurious Behavior,Dissociative Identity Disorder,and Major Depression

Abstract

For three groups of predominantly female inpatients scores on the Glover Vulnerability Scale® were compared with each other and with those of a control sample. The four groups included individuals who were diagnosed with self-injurious behavior, females diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, females whose predominant diagnosis was Major Depressive Disorder, and female controls. Females with a trauma-related diagnosis (Groups 1 and 2) scored higher on the Glover Vulnerability Scale® than Group 3. History of exposure to trauma or childhood abuse most clearly discriminated higher scores within the control sample. The findings highlighted the close relationship between histories of exposure to trauma and high scores on this scale. Additional analysis of these scores and those on the Glover Numbing Scale® showed a close association between feelings of vulnerability and the numbing response.