Non-suicidal self-harm and susceptibility to body modification in a non-clinical population of military-age men

In recent years, the topic of non-suicidal injuries among various categories of the population (adolescents,convicts in places of deprivation of liberty, serving in the army) has received increased attention, includingschizophrenia spectrum disorders, personality disorders, borderline mental disorders, chronic depression, emotionalregulation disorders, addiction diseases (drug addiction, anorexia, eating disorders), viral hepatitis, HIV infection,negative childhood experiences, various forms of violence, etc. Studying the problem of self-injurious behavioramong adolescents and young people in the context of an empirical approach and identifying risk factors acquiresparticular relevance and determines the primary demand for the search for effective algorithms for the psychosocialrehabilitation of persons who have committed intentional non-suicidal injuries. Objective: to identify the associationof non-suicidal self-damaging behavior with a tendency to body modification in people of military age of the non-clinical population. Material and Methods. A survey of 507 men of military age (from 18 to 27 years) was carriedout. The mean age of the surveyed patients was 19 (18; 21) years. Non-suicidal self-harm was recorded within theframework of a clinical interview, as well as using a scale of self-damaging behavior (Polskaya N.A., 2014). Eachconscript was examined to identify body modifications and record their number (tattoos, piercings, scarifications).Statistical analysis (Statistica 10 for Windows) was carried out using frequency and descriptive statistics, non-parametric statistics were provided by correlation analysis of the data obtained using the Spearman coefficient,Pearson's x2 test, Mann-Whitney U-test. Results. Instrumental self-harm at least once in a lifetime was committed by14.7% of the surveyed, somatic - 19.2%. Body modifications were found in 12.8% of conscripts: tattoos (9.3%,n=47), piercings (2.2%, n=11) and atypical modifications such as tunnels in the ears, face and neck tattoos,scarifications (1.4%, n=7). As a result of correlation analysis using the Spearman coefficient, positive associationswith actions related to self-harm were recorded in individuals with more than two body modifications, including thosewith atypical localization. The results of the analysis using the Mann-Whitney U-test indicate that there is arelationship between self-injurious behavior and the presence of more than two modifications or their atypicallocalization in males of military age. Conclusion. Persons of military age with multiple body modifications (tattoos,piercings, body scarification) with a high frequency of occurrence have a history of self-harm. The results of the studycan be used in the preparation of programs for the diagnosis and prevention of self-injurious behavior in adolescentsand young people, as well as in the work of medical commissions that carry out medical examinations uponconscription for military service.