TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1998//
TI  - The psychophysiology of self-mutilation: Evidence of tension reduction
JO  - Archives of suicide research
A1  - Brain, Kerryn L.
A1  - Haines, Janet
A1  - Williams, Christopher L.
SP  - 227
EP  - 242
VL  - 4
IS  - 3
N2  - Psychophysiological and psychological arousal patterns of individuals who self-mutilate during imaged self-mutilation were examined. Imaged control events (accidental injury, anger, neutral) were compared between self-mutilation and control groups. Personalised guided imagery scripts were presented in four stages: scene setting, approach, incident, and consequence. Results depicted a decrease in psychophysiological arousal when self-mutilation participants imaged cutting themselves. A decrease in psychological response was not evident until after cutting. Responses to self-mutilation imagery were different from those demonstrated during control imagery. A comparison of responses to self-mutilation imagery between past and currently self-mutilating participants indicated no difference in the psychophysiological arousal patterns to self-mutilation imagery. A lag was evident for psychological arousal for the retrospective sample but not for the current group. These results indicated that self-mutilative behaviour is maintained by the psychophysiological and psychological tension-reducing qualities of the act. When a person is no longer engaging in the behaviour, the feelings associated with the act are open to reinterpretation.<p />
LA  - en
SN  - 1381-1118
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -