Investigating the Co-Occurrence of Self-Mutilation and Suicide Attempts Among Opioid-Dependent Individuals
Maloney E~~Degenhardt L~~et al
The prevalence & risk factors associated with self-mutilation among opioid dependent cases & controls were determined, & the co-occurrence of self-mutilation & attempted suicide was examined in a sample in New South Wales, Australia. The prevalence of self-mutilation among cases & controls did not differ significantly (25% versus 23%), with gender differences identified among cases only. A number of risk factors were found to be associated with self-mutilation, including borderline personality disorder, alcohol dependence, childhood sexual abuse, & multiple suicide attempts. Not only is self-mutilation a clinically significant problem, but when combined with a history of attempted suicide, the psychological dysfunction observed is markedly high. (50 refs.)