Citation

Sansone RA, Gaither GA, Songer DA, Allen JL. Int. J. Psychiatry Clin. Prac. 2005; 9(1): 41-44.

Affiliation

Deps of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine Wright State Univ School of Medicine, Dayton, OH; Department of Psychological Science Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13651500510018293

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine among psychiatric inpatients (N=110) the relationship, if any, between the number of Axis I diagnoses and the number of self-harm behaviors (SHBs). We also wished to explore the role of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in mediating this possible relationship. Method We examined discharge diagnoses in relationship to scores on the Self-Harm Inventory (SHI) for all participants as well as by BPD status. Results For the entire sample, there was a significant correlation between the number of Axis I disorders and the number of SHBs [Spearman's rho(110)=0.21, p=0.03]. When examining this relationship in terms of BPD status, there were no significant between-group differences in the number of Axis I diagnoses. While patients diagnosed with BPD endorsed significantly more SHBs (M=9.53, SD=3.89) than nonBPD patients (M=5.32, SD=3.89), there was only a significant correlation between the number of Axis I disorders and SHB for the nonBPD, but not the BPD subsample. Conclusions Among psychiatric inpatients, there is a relationship between the number of Axis I diagnoses and the number of SHBs.