Dissociation : Vol. 3, No. 2, p. 081-087 : Self-mutilation associated with dissociative disorders
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Date
1990-06
Authors
Coons, Philip M.
Milstein, Victor
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Multiple Personality and Dissociation
Abstract
The incidence of self-mutilation is high among patients with eating disorders, antisocial personality disorder, and borderline personality disorder. To determine the incidence of self-mutilation among patients with dissociative disorders, the first one hundred consecutive adult dissociative disorder patients who were enrolled in a dissociative disorders clinic were evaluated for self-mutilation. Self-mutilation was a common occurrence among patients with multiple personality disorder (48%), psychogenic amnesia (29%), and dissociative disorder not otherwise specified (23 %). Often the patients were amnesic for the self-mutilation. The occurrence of amnesia or persistent denial of self-injury in anyone who engages in self-mutilation makes it imperative that they be screened carefully for evidence of dissociation. Four case histories are described and illustrated with photographs.
Description
p. 081-087