Lifetime Physical and Sexual Abuse and Self-Harm in Women With Severe Mental Illness

• Published in: Violence against women Vol. 22; no. 10; pp. 1211 - 1227
• Main Authors: O’Hare, Thomas, Shen, Ce, Sherrer, Margaret V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-09-2016; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adult; Alcohol abuse; Alcoholism - etiology; Alcoholism - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Females; Humans; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - complications; Mental Disorders - psychology; Middle Aged; Post traumatic stress disorder; Psychiatry; Regression Analysis; Rhode Island; Self destructive behavior; Self-Injurious Behavior - psychology; Sex crimes; Sex Offenses - psychology; Sex Offenses - statistics & numerical data; Sexual abuse; Substance abuse; Suicide; Suicide - psychology; Suicide - statistics & numerical data; Symptoms; Trauma; Violence; Women; trauma; PTSD; physical abuse; self-harm; severe mental illness
• ISSN: 1077-8012; 1552-8448
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801215622576

In a sample of 242 women in treatment for severe mental illness (SMI), we used regression analysis to test the hypothesis that lifetime physical and sexual abuse would correlate with self-harm behaviors (thoughts of self-harm and suicide, self-harming behaviors, and suicide attempts) when controlling for psychiatric symptoms, substance abuse, and negative appraisals of trauma. Lifetime physical abuse and alcohol use were the only significant factors in the model. Women with SMI should be screened regularly for physical abuse, alcohol use, as well as thoughts and behaviors related to self-harming behaviors. Limitations of the study include its cross-sectional design.