Self-Harm in Secure Hospital Settings; Causes and Prevention

Discipline/professional area

Forensic Psychology

Outline of research project

This research aims to explore self-harm in secure forensic hospital settings in order to understand the causes and functions of self-harm so that appropriate preventive measures can be initiated. The research will investigate potential causes and functions of self-harm in secure hospital settings, gender differences regarding the causes and functions of self-harm, the relationship between self-harm and violence, as well as prevention strategies.

Key references

Hill, C. D., Rogers, R., & Bickford, M. E. (1996). Predicting aggressive and socially disruptive behaviour in a maximum security forensic psychiatric hospital. Journal of Forensic Science, 41(1), 56-59.

Ireland, J. L., & Quinn, K. (2007). Officer attitudes towards adult male prisoners who self‐harm: development of an attitudinal measure and investigation of sex differences. Aggressive Behaviour: Official Journal of the International Society for Research on Aggression, 33(1), 63-72.

Wichmann, C., Serin, R., & Motiuk, L. L. (2000). Predicting suicide attempts among male offenders in federal penitentiaries. Correctional Service Canada, Research Branch, Corporate Development.

Snow, L., Greenaway, B., & Paton, J. (2003). ‘Report of the F213 Self-harm Data Collection Project: Summary of Key Findings. Safer Custody Newsletter, HM Prison service. UK: HMSO.

Homan, K. J., Sim, L. A., Fargo, J. D., & Twohig, M. P. (2017). Five-year prospective investigation of self-harm/suicide-related behaviours in the development of borderline personality disorder. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 8(2), 183.

Gallagher, J., & Sheldon, K. (2010). Assessing the functions of self-harm behaviours for dangerous and severely personality disordered males in a high secure hospital. The British Journal of Forensic Practice, 12(1), 22- Expected Completion date 32.

Supervisors

Dr Kate Whitfield & Jennie Drabble

Expected Completion date

24 September 2021