Citation

Mohino Justes S, Ortega-Monasterio L, Planchat Teruel LM, Cuquerella Fuentes A, Talón Navarro T, Macho Vives LJ. J. Forensic Sci. 2004; 49(1): 137-140.

Affiliation

Catalan Institute of Forensic Medicine of Higher Court of Justice, Clínica Médico-Forense de Barcelona, Ronda de San Pedro, 35, bajos. 08010 Barcelona, Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14979360

Abstract

This study investigated deliberate self-harm (DSH) in young inmates. The objectives are twofold: first, to identify the social and clinical characteristics of inmates who commit DSH; and secondly, to ascertain the types of personality who are vulnerable in order to be able to predict future inmates who may harm themselves. A cross-sectional design was used to study psychosocial correctional personality characteristics and clinical pictures in inmates with DSH versus a control group without DSH. The measures used to evaluate different variables were a standard protocol and a self-report questionnaire (MCMI-II). Although the two groups compared are homogeneous and similar in terms of different psychosocial variables, inmates with DSH presented a significant background of maltreatment. Borderline, passive-aggressive, and antisocial personality disorders best discriminated both groups. The detection of borderline, negativistic, and antisocial disorders may help the medical services of penitentiary centers to predict youths with a possible risk of DSH. Despite the results obtained, longitudinal studies are needed to help clarify other risk factors, as well as other risk factors leading to self-harm behavior.

Language: en