Self-Mutilation in Female Psychopaths

Abstract

Rampton is a Special Hospital catering mainly for subnormal and psychopathic patients with histories of dangerous and violent behaviour. Earlier work (McKerracher, Street, Segal, 1966) had shown that female patients were significantly more prone than males to mutilate their own bodies and smash hospital property. Such acts are usually regarded in this hospital as hysterical outbursts in which there is often an insensitivity to pain. Gross lacerations are often inflicted without the patient appearing to experience any suffering. Some kind of hysterical anaesthesia may be involved. It is known that this kind of behaviour is found in long-term patients suffering from (a) schizophrenia and (b) severe character disorder (Offer and Barglow, 1960).