Citation

Fliege H, Becker J, Weber C, Schoeneich F, Klapp BF, Rose M. Z. Psychosom. Med. Psychother. 2003; 49(2): 151-163.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht)

DOI

10.13109/zptm.2003.49.2.151

PMID

12748910

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: According to psychoanalytic models self-harming patients are characterised by an unstable self-system and a disturbed regulation of self-esteem. This is presumed to be denied or dissociated to a greater degree by those who harm themselves secretly (factitious patients) as compared to those who show open self-harm. It is hypothesised and empirically tested that self-destructive patients have more profound disorders of narcissistic self-regulation than patients without self-destruction, and that this should be more evident in patients with overt self-destructive behaviour.
METHODS: The sample consists of 354 psychosomatic patients, 32 of whom demonstrated self-destructive behaviour (18 exclusively overt and 6 exclusively covert types of behaviour, according to Willenberg et al.). The narcissism inventory was applied.
RESULTS: Self-destructive patients showed higher levels on the "threatened self"-dimension than psychosomatic patients without self-harm. Overtly self-harming patients showed a higher degree of narcissistic self-regulation than covertly self-destructive patients.
CONCLUSIONS: This supports theoretical assumptions of a disturbed regulation of self-esteem in self-destructive patients, especially in overtly self-harming patients.

Language: de

Keywords

Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Berlin; Factitious Disorders; Female; Hospitals, Psychiatric; Humans; Internal-External Control; Male; Middle Aged; Narcissism; Personality Inventory; Psychophysiologic Disorders; Self Concept; Self-Injurious Behavior; Social Behavior