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Self-harm among people with intellectual disabilities living in secure service provision: a qualitative exploration
- Authors:
- BROWN Jessica, BEAIL Nigel
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22(6), November 2009, pp.503-513.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study explored the experiences and understanding of self-harm among people with intellectual disabilities living in secure accommodation. Interventions associated with this behaviour were also explored. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with nine people who self harm, had intellectual disabilities and had been placed in secure accommodation. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis yielded three master themes. The first related to the interpersonal context of self-harm and included sub themes relating to past experiences of abuse and loss, and current issues of control and protection. The second master theme related to the emotional experience of self-harm, which varied throughout the process of self-harm and was characterized by anger, frustration, hopelessness, relief, guilt and regret. The third master theme related to the management of self-harm. Participants had experience of helpful individual and collaborative strategies, as well as interventions that were experienced as controlling, unhelpful or ridiculing. The emerging themes are considered in relation to the wider-self-harm literature and current psychotherapeutic models. A number of limitations to the study are noted and the use of this methodology with people with intellectual disabilities was discussed.