Investigating the Co‐Occurrence of Self‐Mutilation and Suicide Attempts among Opioid‐Dependent Individuals |
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| Authors: | Elizabeth Maloney PhD Louisa Degenhardt PhD Shane Darke PhD Elliot C. Nelson MD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia;2. Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry in St Louis, MO. |
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| Abstract: | The prevalence and risk factors associated with self‐mutilation among opioid dependent cases and controls were determined, and the co‐occurrence of self‐mutilation and attempted suicide was examined. The prevalence of self‐mutilation among cases and controls did not differ significantly (25% vs. 23%, respectively), 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, and 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. |
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