Citation

McReynolds LS, Wasserman GA. J. Trauma. Stress 2011; 24(6): 752-755.

Affiliation

Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute. mcreynol@nyspi.columbia.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jts.20699

PMID

22113950

Abstract

Despite evidence supporting a connection between child maltreatment and self-injury, there is disagreement regarding a particular connection to sexual abuse because types of trauma exposure often co-occur. To examine these associations efficiently, we considered a sample of incarcerated juvenile females, where rates of both trauma exposure and self-injury would be expected to be elevated. Adolescent females (N = 220) reported on history of self-injurious behavior on the Voiced Index of Self-injurious Actions, as well as psychiatric disorder. A common set of features was associated with cutting and with self-injury in general. Both were more likely in those initiating delinquent activities when younger and in those currently meeting criteria for major depressive disorder, or with a previous suicide attempt. Adjusting for those features, report of self-injury was approximately doubled among those disclosing prior traumatic exposure that was sexual, OR = 2.66, 95% CI [1.38, 5.15], or nonsexual, OR = 2.18, 95% CI [1.17, 4.04]. Exposure to early traumatic events, such as child maltreatment, likely contributes to a set of adverse experiences, including delinquent activity, mood disorder, and self-injury. Findings contribute to work demonstrating the importance of dissociation both as a consequence of victimization and as a key feature underlying self-injurious behavior.

Language: en