Self-mutilation Gene?

[Cindy]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2916393a11,00.html



Kiwi researchers ID self-mutilation gene

23 May 2004

By TARA ROSS



Kiwi researchers have identified a gene markedly increasing a teenager's risk of self-mutilation.





A Christchurch School of Medicine study has discovered those who have the gene are four times more likely to mutilate or cut themselves than those who do not have it.



Researcher professor Peter Joyce said the gene appeared to intensify the "numb" state that self-mutilators try to escape from by inflicting pain and cutting themselves.



About 40% of the population has the gene, which researchers have now identified as one of three main predictors of self-mutilation, along with borderline personality disorder and a history of childhood sexual abuse.



Joyce said the study, yet to be published, found that of the young people who did not carry the gene and who had not been sexually abused, only 5% self-mutilated.



By comparison, those who had the gene and had not been abused, or who had been abused and did not have the gene, had a 50% chance of self-mutilating.



An earlier Christchurch School of Medicine study into depression revealed more young people had cut themselves than had attempted suicide.



Jocye estimated about 5% of all New Zealanders self-mutilate at some time, usually in their teens.



Actual figures are difficult to find as self-mutilation is not well studied and is commonly confused with suicide attempts, but experts warn the number of teenagers cutting themselves is on the rise.



Auckland District Health Board clinical leader of mental health Nick Argyle said the prevalence of cutting had gone up and was now one of the most common presentations at the Kari Centre, the board's community mental health service for children and adolescents.



Between 20% and 30% of new clients, about two people a week, were cutting themselves.



"Young women cutting themselves is quite common," he said.



Dr Sue Bagshaw, who heads a trust that runs Christchurch's Youth Health Centre, said cutting was becoming more prevalent partly because of copycats. Teenagers who knew other people who were cutting were more likely to try it themselves.



More acceptable forms of self-mutilation, such as body piercing, may hide the extent of the problem. Joyce said patients sometimes resorted to body piercing or tattooing, rather than cutting themselves, when they needed pain to break their intensely numb state.





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Interesting, but not an excuse.

[Brad]

Hrm. Nice find, interesting.