Violence toward self

Question 1

What are the common types of self harm?

Answer 1

Cutting (>70 %), burning, hitting, puncturing, biting

Question 2

Which areas on the body are most concerning when someone is cutting?

Answer 2

face
neck
breasts
genitals

Question 3

What are the key characteristics of patients with a high risk of self harm?

Answer 3

Negative emotionality
Difficulty with expression or awareness of emotions
Self-apathy/distorted self blame
Few emotional attachments

Question 4

What are the negative effects of cutting?

Answer 4

Can increase in potential for danger or suicide
Become habit forming
Be humiliating
Countertransferance reactivity

Question 5

What are the key functions of self harm?

Answer 5

Regulates emotional distress
Communicates distress to others
Grounds the person

Question 6

What are the intervention approaches to caring for someone who engages in self harm?

Answer 6

Be concerned not reactive
Develop a relationship
Explore alternatives
Prepare an emergency kit of things to do/people to call