ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 17 December 2003
Page Count: 4

Discriminating Deliberate Self-Harm (DSH) in Young Prison Inmates Through Personality Disorder
Cuquerella, FA
Forensic doctor, Catalan Institute of Forensic Medicine of Higher Court of Justice, Clínica MÙdico-Forense de Barcelona, Instituto de Medicina Legal de Cataluña,

Mohino, JS
Forensic psychologist, Catalan Institute of Forensic Medicine of Higher Court of Justice, Clínica Médico-Forense de Barcelona, Instituto de Medicina Legal de Cataluña,

Ortega-Monasterio, L
Forensic psychiatrist, professor of the Juridical Sciences Department, University of Barcelona (Spain), and forensic doctor, Catalan Institute of Forensic Medicine of Higher Court of Justice, Clínica Médico-Forense de Barcelona, Instituto de Medicina Legal de Cataluña,

Talön, NT
Forensic doctor, Catalan Institute of Forensic Medicine of Higher Court of Justice, Clínica MÙdico-Forense de Barcelona, Instituto de Medicina Legal de Cataluña,

Planchat, TLM
Forensic doctor, Catalan Institute of Forensic Medicine of Higher Court of Justice, Clínica MÙdico-Forense de Barcelona, Instituto de Medicina Legal de Cataluña,

Macho, VJL
Psychiatrist, Public Mental Health Center of Barcelona,

(Received 24 March 2003; accepted 6 September 2003)

Abstract

This study investigated deliberate self-harm (DSH) in young inmates. The objectives are twofold: first, to identify the social and clinical characteristics of inmates who commit DSH; and secondly, to ascertain the types of personality who are vulnerable in order to be able to predict future inmates who may harm themselves. A cross-sectional design was used to study psychosocial correctional personality characteristics and clinical pictures in inmates with DSH versus a control group without DSH. The measures used to evaluate different variables were a standard protocol and a self-report questionnaire (MCMI-II). Although the two groups compared are homogeneous and similar in terms of different psychosocial variables, inmates with DSH presented a significant background of maltreatment. Borderline, passive-aggressive, and antisocial personality disorders best discriminated both groups.

The detection of borderline, negativistic, and antisocial disorders may help the medical services of penitentiary centers to predict youths with a possible risk of DSH. Despite the results obtained, longitudinal studies are needed to help clarify other risk factors, as well as other risk factors leading to self-harm behavior.

Keywords:
forensic science, personality, deliberate self-harm, prison

Paper ID: JFS2003111
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2003111
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