Clinical Correlates of Self-Mutilation in Borderline Personality Disorder

A study of 124 consecutively admitted inpatients is reported in this article (62 nonmutilators, 23 infrequent mutilators & 39 frequent mutilators). Conclusions: Borderline patients who frequently mutilate themselves may represent a subgroup of especially high utilizers of psychiatric treatment who are at particularly high risk for suicidal behavior & for comorbid major depression & eating disorders. Treatment implications are discussed. Limitations of the sampling method are noted. (24 refs.)