Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicología del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.
Psicothema, 2012. Vol. Vol. 24 (nº 4). 536-541
Sónia Ferreira Gonçalves1, Carla Martins1, Ana Paula Rosendo1, Bárbara César Machado2 and Eliana Silva1
In order to assess the frequency and correlates of self-injurious behavior (SIB), 569 Portuguese adolescents aged 12 to 20 years completed questionnaires assessing SIB and psychopathological symptoms. Almost 28% (n = 158) reported a lifetime history of SIB and nearly 10% had performed it in the previous month. The most frequently injured body parts were arms, hands and nails. Most of the self-injurers admit that "now and then" they feel some "mild" to "moderate" pain during SIB. Most of them admitted using these behaviors to avoid/suppress negative feelings, painful images or memories, to punish themselves and to avoid doing something bad. Positive emotions increased significantly after SIB. The self-injurer group reported more psychopathological symptoms. SIB appears to be a common phenomenon with specific functions in adolescence and this must be addressed by clinicians and educational professionals.
Conducta autolesiva en adolescentes portugueses. Con la finalidad de evaluar la frecuencia y la correlación de la conducta autolesiva en 569 adolescentes portugueses de edades comprendidas entre 12 y 20 años de edad, se han completado cuestionarios evaluando la conducta autolesiva y los síntomas psicopatológicos. El 28% (n= 158) reportó un historial de conducta autolesiva y el 10% lo habían tenido el mes anterior. Las partes del cuerpo con mayores lesiones son los brazos, las manos y las uñas. Asimismo, la mayoría de las personas que se autolesionan admiten sentirse en ese momento con un dolor entre ligero y moderado. Además, admiten usar esta conducta con el fin de evitar o suprimir sentimientos negativos, imágenes y memorias dolorosas para autocastigarse y para evitar hacer algo malo. Las emociones positivas se incrementan de forma significativa después de la conducta autolesiva y el grupo de los que se autolesionan presentan más síntomas psicopatológicos. La conducta autolesiva parece ser un fenómeno común con funciones específicas en la adolescencia y esto debe ser tratado por profesionales del área clínica y educacional.
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