Author:

Keywords:

Psychiatry

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: DSM-IV (Diagnostic and statisticat manual of mental disorders, 4th edition) and recent research describe the comorbidity of self-mutilative behavior and dissociative symptoms and the role of traumatic experiences as a risk for both symptomgroups. AIMS: To investigate this comorbidity in female psychiatric patients with diverse DSM-IV-diagnoses. METHOD: The Questionnaire Self-mutilative behavior, the Questionnaire Traumatic Experiences and the Dissociation Questionnaire were filled in by 196 subjects. RESULTS: Correlations between self-mutilation, dissociation (except for amnesia) and traumatic experiences are meaningful and positive. Self-mutilators report significantly more dissociation than non-self mutilators. Traumatic experiences predispose to dissociation with self-mutilation, except for amnesia. Traumatic experiences and loss of control can predict self-injurious behavior. CONCLUSION: The study largely confirms the expected connection between self-injury, dissociation and traumatic experiences. The results suggest that, next to traumatic experiences, there are also other possible risk factors for dissociation and self-injury.