Report of the Commissioner\u27s Task Force on Self-Destructive Behaviors and Teen Suicide

Report of the Commissioner\u27s Task Force on Self-Destructive Behaviors and Teen Suicide. Susan B. Parker, Commissioner - Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Augusta, Maine (December 1987). Contents: Foreward / Task Force Members / Introduction / Characteristics of Self-Destructive Teens / Factors Contributing to Self-Destructive Behaviors / Findings and Recommendations / Referenceshttps://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/me_collection/1092/thumbnail.jp

Personality Characteristics Which Predispose Potentially Self-Destructive Behaviors

In the college setting, many adolescents choose to engage in potentially self-destructive behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and body piercing, despite the associated risks. It is hypothesized that the tendency to participate in these behaviors is correlated with personality characteristics. Personality tests measuring sensation seeking, locus of control, and impulsiveness, along with three scales measuring the tendency to participate in three self-destructive behaviors: smoking, drinking, and body decoration, were administered to 102 college-aged students. Results showed that most of the self-destructive behaviors were negatively correlated with subscales of the sensation seeking measure. One possible explanation of these results would be the conservative, Catholic, campus culture of the university. However, more research is necessary to substantiate this type of group difference

Behavior-genetic Study on a Group of Patients Characterized by Eating Disorders and Multiple Self-destructive Behaviors

近年、欧米諸国およびわが国においては、摂食障害が年々増加している。摂食障害を示す患者の症状、経過、転帰、そして治療に対する反応性などは、はなはだ多彩で単一な疾患とは考えられない。すでに多くの研究者が摂食障害の臨床遺伝学並びに、統計学的研究の結果、本症が異種性の疾患であると結論している。我々も長年にわたり、摂食障害患者ことに、摂食障害にアルコール症をはじめ薬物依存、性障害および性同一性障害、窃盗癖、性的逸脱、自殺、自傷行為など種々の問題行動を伴い、対応の困難な患者の治療に関わってきた。本研究においては、このような、摂食障害に各種の問題行動を伴うものの疾病学的な分類を目標に、行動遺伝学的な研究を行った。対象は1990年1月から1995年12月の6年間に入院・外来治療を行った65名の摂食障害患者で、その中から様々な自己破壊的行動を伴う亜型を類別し、EDMUL（Eating Disorders with Multiple self-destructive behaviors）とした。EDMULでは、アルコール症、薬物依存症、自傷行為、自殺、窃盗癖、性的逸脱行動その他の身体的生命および社会的生命にたいする破壊的行動が、同時に或いは互いに入れ替わって出現した。さらにEDMULの家族内にもアルコール症や問題行動の負因が多く認められ、その基盤として遺伝的背景に基づく強力な衝動性とそのコントロール障害が考えられた。Among a group of patients (n=65), the majority of whom had been introduced to us by eating-disorder specialists elsewhere because of difficulties in their treatment, we defined a subgroup disordered eating behavior, problematical behavior relating to the use of alcohol and other substances, shoplifting, promiscuity, and suicidal tendencies were seen in 74%, 36%, 33%, and 15% of the patients, respectively. Further, this subgroup showed an extremely worse outcome, when compared with the subgroup of patients with pure eating disorders (n=26). With regard to the intrafamilial traits examined among the first-and second-degree relatives, 49% of the patients had the trait for alcohol dependence, 28% had the trait for problematical behaviors. The physically or socially self-destructive types of behavior, which seemed to be attributable to vigorous and uncontrollable intrinsic impulses of the patients, tended to emerge in the respective patients in revolving or alternating manners. Therefore, enduring efforts should be taken to support the personality development of such patients rather than to struggle with respective problematical behaviors, which may be considered merely as facets of a single disorder.(n=39) characterized by eating disorders and multiple behavioral problems. In addition to th

Adolescent grief: The nurse\u27s role in promoting healthy coping mechanisms and preventing future hospitalizations

Age and developmental stage directly influence the grieving individual\u27s ability to understand and process death. Adolescents are especially vulnerable to developing negative coping skills such as substance abuse, self-destructive behaviors, and eating disorders. After a loss occurs, nurses can use their role as a caregiver who is neither a parent nor a peer to provide adolescents with an opportunity to express their grief. Nurses can educate grieving adolescents on the differences between positive and negative coping skills and can therefore reduce the number of future hospitalizations related to ineffective coping mechanisms

Mediators of self-destructive behaviors in women survivors of childhood sexual abuse: A structural model

The purpose of this project was to examine the predictors of risky sexual behaviors and poor eating behaviors for women who experienced childhood sexual abuse, including family hardiness, and depression in a structural equation model. A second group of those who had not been sexually abused as children was also tested using the same structural equation model

Self-Injurious Behavior Associated With Clonidine Withdrawal in a Child With Tourette's Disorder

A 7-year-old boy with Tourette's disorder, atypical pervasive developmental disorder, borderline mental retardation, and a history of self-injurious behavior was treated for 21 months with clonidine transdermal patches at doses ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 mg weekly. When withdrawn from clonidine over 4 weeks to assess the need for continued therapy, the patient developed multiple self-destructive behaviors involving the theme of suffocation. The importance of careful clinical monitoring of the behavior of patients undergoing withdrawal from prolonged treatment with high doses of clonidine is emphasized. (J Child Neurol 1990;5:308-310).Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68074/2/10.1177_088307389000500406.pd

Cutting and self-mutilating behaviors among adolescent girls : a counselor\u27s role in understanding and treatment

With the reported incidence of cutting and self-mutilating behaviors in adolescent girls on the rise, counselors need to take a look at the changing role they can play in helping these young girls understand the reasons underlying their self-destructive behaviors. The counselor can also help them find new ways to cope with the deep emotional trauma that precipitates the behavior. Understanding the causes and dynamics of this disorder will lead to better opportunities for effective treatment. This paper is intended to focus on the nature of the disorder and the role of counseling in bringing these young women back from the edge of darkness and teaching them how to form healthy coping skills, behaviors, and communications

Moral Disengagement, Hope and Spirituality: Including an empirical exploration of combat veterans

Albert Bandura’s construct of moral disengagement has been recognized as theoretically useful for the study of self-destructive behaviors and moral disengagement, and to provide a unique criterion for empirical investigation of United States combat veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The purpose of this project is to better understand predictors related to the disengagement of moral self-sanctions in order that self-destructive behaviors related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, such as drug and alcohol abuse, and the ultimate self-destructive behavior of suicide, might be mitigated. Charles Snyder’s hope construct, Harold Koenig and Arndt Büssing’s concept of intrinsic religiosity and Corey Keyes’ notion of psychological flourishing are chosen as viable predictor variables. Hope and intrinsic religiosity are found to be significant and to be correlated with moral disengagement. Inferences regarding the results are postulated and suggestions are made for research regarding other possible predictors of moral disengagement. Agentive moral reinforcement is discussed and proposals offered related to increasing psychological resilience and decreasing the agent’s risk associated with moral disengagement