Year: 1977 Source: Military Medicine, v.142, no.12, (December 1977), p.942-944 SIEC No: 19860851

All male patients who had cut their wrists & been admitted to the Bethesda Navel Hospital, Maryland, between Oct. 1971 & May 1972 were interviewed (N=10). All were under 23 years of age. The group was divided into coarse cutters & delicate cutters. All 8 coarse cutters were suicidal & had made serious attempts & used the instrument most easily available to them. The 2 delicate cutters were not suicidal & cutting was a part of a symbolic ritual for them & involved drinking. 13 refs. (NBB)