Experiences of self-injury and aggression among women admitted to forensic psychiatric care
Engelsk titel: Experiences of self-injury and aggression among women admitted to forensic psychiatric care
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Författare:
Selenius, Heidi
;
Strand, Susanne
Email: heidi.selenius@oru.se
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 38
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 17080046
Sammanfattning
Background: Self-injury and institutional violence are well-known characteristics of female forensic psychiatric
patients, but research on patients’ experiences of these behaviours is limited.
Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate how female forensic psychiatric patients describe their
self-injury and aggression.
Methods: The authors performed qualitative in-depth interviews with 13 female forensic psychiatric
inpatients. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: The analysis resulted in three themes describing the process of handling negative thoughts
and emotions by using self-injury or aggression towards others and thereby experiencing satisfaction.
Both self-injury and aggression were experienced as strategies for emotional regulation. The forensic
psychiatric care was perceived as important for the women in developing less harmful strategies for
coping with negative thoughts and emotions instead of injuring themselves or others.
Conclusions: Self-injury and aggression are often risk-assessed separately, but results from the present
study suggest that these behaviours need a more holistic approach.