Impulsivity in Self-Mutilative Behavior: Psychometric and Biological Findings

This paper examines impulsivity as a central factor in moderate/superficial self-mutilation such as skin-cutting & burning. On the whole, results from a variety of tests implicate impulsive personality functioning as a major factor is subjects with moderate/superficial self-mutilative behavior whose trait pathology is similar to personality disordered patients with other modes of self-harming impulsive behavior. (53 refs)