The psychopathology of incarcerated self-mutilators.

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.