Assumptions and aims: In recent years we have been observing an increasing number of adolescent patients exhibiting autoaggressive behaviour. These are often direct self-mutilations, defined as deliberate body injuries. The intention of such behaviours is physical self-injuring to reduce mental pain, relieve emotional tension and anxiety. This is accompanied by the sense of being “rewarded”. The study is aimed at analysing the correlation between the severity of general hostility and its respective subscales assessed by the Buss-Durkee Inventory on Moods and humours and the occurrence of selfmutilations in a group of adolescents with superficial self-mutilations. Material and methods: The examined population consisted of 67 persons aged 14-18 years, of both genders. Qualified to the examined group were 42 adolescent patients exhibiting autoaggressive behaviour. The control group consisted of 25 persons selected according to age and gender who did not exhibit such behaviours. Excluded from the study were subjects with depressive, psychotic disorders as well as significant somatic disorders, and those who used psychotropic drugs and psychoactive substances. The respondents completed the Buss-Durkee Inventory assessing the level of general hostility and its seven subscales: direct aggressiveness consisting of physical and verbal aggressiveness, indirect aggressiveness, resentment, negativism, suspiciousness and irritability. A separate scale assessed the sense of guilt. Conclusions: 1) Self-mutilations in the examined group were associated with severity of aggressiveness directed outwards (measured both by its general level and in respective subscales). 2) Self-mutilating patients require therapeutic measures (psychotherapeutic and pharmacological) aimed at reduction not only of autoaggression but also aggression directed outwards.

hostility, autoaggressive behaviour, self-injuring, adolescents, Buss-Durkee Inventory