Examining dual-harm in forensic mental health service users, v 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of psychopathy and emotion regulation in the co-occurrence of self-harm and aggression in forensic mental health service users (COSAF): developing a theoretical model of dual-harm
IRAS ID
283213
Contact name
Matina Shafti
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
Dual-harm is the co-occurrence of self-harm and aggression in an individual throughout the course of their lifetime. This harmful behaviour is especially prevalent amongst forensic mental health service users and can lead to health and social problems. It is important to identify why these individuals may engage in dual-harm to help us prevent and reduce this harmful behaviour. Psychopathy is an antisocial personality style which is more prevalent in forensic populations than the general population, and is linked to self-harm and aggression. Those with psychopathy personality styles have been found to have impairments in regulating their emotions (referred to as emotional dysregulation) and such impairments are linked to harmful behaviours. It may be that those with psychopathy personality styles are more likely to engage in dual-harm as a way to regulate their negative emotions. However, no previous study has examined this hypothesis. Therefore, this study aims to extend our understanding of dual-harm by investigating whether psychopathy and emotional dysregulation play a role in dual-harm amongst forensic mental health service users.
This project will use quantitative (cross-sectional and longitudinal) and qualitative designs. Participants with a history of dual-harm will be recruited from secure mental health services in England. For the quantitative study, participants will answer questionnaires assessing their personality, emotional dysregulation and dual-harm thoughts/behaviours at two different time points. For the qualitative study, semi-structured interviews will be conducted to explore how participants perceive their personality and emotional regulation to contribute to their dual-harm. Findings may inform future research of dual-harm and have important implications for services by identifying potentially key mechanisms of dual-harm which can be targeted in strategies aiming to reduce and prevent self-harm and aggression.
This study is funded by the North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership scheme within the Economic and Social Research Council.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
21/WA/0168
Date of REC Opinion
21 May 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion