Assessing the functions of self‐harm behaviours for dangerous and severely personality disordered males in a high secure hospital

The three aims of the study reported were to investigate the functions of self‐harm in a population of patients detained in the Peaks Unit at Rampton hospital, to investigate the context and nature of this behaviour and to examine how staff respond to incidents of self‐harm. The findings indicate that there may be some functions of self‐harm specific to this population in addition to those found in other settings, namely expression of aggression and revenge. The context and nature of incidents were similar to those found in other secure settings. A range of staff responses were observed, and indicated high demand on staff time and resources. Limitations of the methods are discussed, with proposals for future research.