Self harm: who does it and why?

In the last year, multiple studies of self-harm, especially self-mutilation and self-cutting, have shown that this phenomenon is far more common among young people in the US and the UK than previously estimated. For one, data have historically been based on cases where the individual presents for medical care. The majority of cases go undetected and untreated.

According to the authors of this study, students reported that self-harm was associated with distress, and in some cases serious psychological issues.

'The reasons why boys and girls decide to self-harm are varied but the most frequent motive expressed by both males and females was as a means of coping with distress,' said Dr Rodham.
...
Self-harm was more common in pupils who had been bullied and was strongly associated with physical and sexual abuse in both sexes."

We know that self harm is also common in laboratory animals, including monkeys. Studies in large federally-funded primate colonies indicate that the vast majority of monkeys engage in abnormal behaviors such as rocking and pacing (Range: 89-99%). However, 25% or more engage in self-injurious behaviors including self-biting and banging their heads against their cages. As with the human data, a smaller proportion of those who self-injured actually received "professional" care, i.e. veterinary care in the case of monkeys, as a result of their injuries (about 11%).

The risk factors for abnormal and self-injurious behaviors include 1) separation from the mother before the natural age of weaning, 2) the age at which an individual was first place in an isolation cage, 3) the length of time that an individual has been caged, and 4) the frequency and intensity of experimental procedures conducted on the monkeys. Clearly, the self-injury is associated with early and persistent trauma.

Given the risk factors above and the insights from the Rodham study , it is clear to see that self-injurious behaviors by monkeys and humans are associated with distress and trauma.

See full release at: One in ten teenage girls have self-harmed, study shows

References for factoids about self-mutilation in monkeys noted above:

Bellanca R. and Crockett C. Factors Predicting Increased Incidence of Abnormal Behavior in Male Pigtailed Macaques. Am. J. Primatol. 58(2) (2002) : 57-69.

Brent L, Koban T, and Ramirez S. 2002. "Abnormal, Sbusive, and stress-related Behaviors in Baboon Mothers." Biol Psychiatry 52(11): 1047-1056.

Lutz C., Well A., and Novak M. Stereotypic and Self-Injurious Behavior in Rhesus Macaques: A Survey and Retrospective Analysis of Environment and Early Experience. Am. J. Primatol. 60(1) (2003) : 1-15.

Novak M. Self-Injurious Behavior in Rhesus Monkeys: New Insights Into Its Etiology, Physiology, and Treatment. Am. J. Primatol. 59(1) (2003) : 3-19.