One hundred cases of self-injury, comprising 39 self-cutters and 61 self-poisoners, were interviewed when they became able to describe the act: 83 in a casualty department, 17 in a hospital. Standardized recordings were made of their feeling state before and after the act, together with an account of the social circumstances under which it occurred. The information was obtained in a way which allowed comparison with existing animal data on self-injury, although comparisons were made between what is known of animal behavior in this area and human feelings as reported by these subjects. The results indicate similarities between what is known of animal self-injury and self-cutting in man in the form of the injury, in the social situation preceding the act, and in the agitation preceding it. Similarities also exist, but are less close, for the self-poisoners. The most obvious effect of the act is a reduction in tension; this may constitute its physiological value.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1979

Some nonverbal aspects of depression and schizophrenia occurring during the interview.

Using remote control videotape recording of interviews and subsequent analysis of the record, eight measures of nonverbal behavior (principally facial) have been made in 12 schizophrenic and 13 depressive subjects shortly after admission to the hospital and again prior to discharge. They were matched with controls who were interviewed in a similar way. Additional videotape observations were made prior to the interview, when the patient was alone and subsequently when he was shown pictures designed to evoke emotional responses. It appears that some nonverbal behaviors can be used in the interview to differentiate between psychiatric patients and normals. These may also be useful as an index of clinical change since they revert toward the normal with clinical improvement. The nonverbal behaviors studied were more prominent in the interpersonal setting than when alone or when the subject was looking at pictorial stimuli. This implies that they may be elicited in response to another individual, either as a distortion of the ordinary nonverbal signaling system, or as physiological responses to a changed state of arousal induced by the interpersonal setting rather than as static characteristics of the syndrome.

Adult↗

PubMed1979

Seasonal births in schizophrenia. A southern hemisphere study using matched pairs.

Season of birth of schizophrenics was investigated by comparing 915 carefully selected schizophrenic patients with controls matched for age and sex. While the winter-spring excess of schizophrenic births was similar to Northern Hemisphere findings, further examination of data revealed a new feature: a striking excess of male schizophrenic births for the decade 1915--24. The hypothesis of differential resistance to infection is discussed as an explanation for these findings.

Australia↗

PubMed1979

Exhibitionism - a biological hypothesis.

Twenty-four male genital exhibitionists were interviewed in detail and followed up for periods of from 1 to 5 years. Biographical, attitudinal and behavioural data obtained from them were examined with a view to providing information about the aetiology of this behaviour. The evidence presented and discussed is consistent with the hypothesis that exhibiting represents the expression of an innate disposition. Exhibitionism is found to be widespread and patterned in form, to have a driven quality and to coexist with a variety of personality types. This hypothesis is further developed by discussion of anthropological and ethological data.

Adolescent↗