SELF-MUTILATION IN CLINICAL AND GENERAL-POPULATION SAMPLES - PREVALENCE, CORRELATES, AND FUNCTIONS

Self-mutilation, examined in samples of the general population, clinic al groups, and self-identified self-mutilators, was reported by 4% of the general and 21% of the clinical sample, and was equally prevalent among males and females. Results suggest that such behavior is used to decrease dissociation, emotional distress, and posttraumatic symptoms . Childhood sexual abuse was associated with self-mutilation in both c linical and nonclinical samples.