TO THE CLASSIFICATION AND BASIC DOCUMENTA TION OF SELF-HARMING BEHAVIOR

The literature concerning self-harming behaviour involves mostly singl e case studies. The few empiric studies rely on relatively few cases. The absence of a unitary nomenclature and of a uniform model of docume ntation makes the comparison of the diverse results of investigation d ifficult. The present basic model of documentation enables clinicians and investigators - independent of their psychopathological and psycho therapeutical orientation - to comprehend basic data and to classify t hem systematically. Hereby, the exchange between clinicians who are co nfronted with self-harming patients is improved and possibilities for multicentre studies created.