The psychiatric implications of visible tattoos in an adult male prison population

Understanding Differences in Mental Health History and Behavioral Choices in a Community Sample of Individuals with and without Body Modifications

“…Incarcerated individuals with visible tattoos have higher unemployment, a greater likelihood of receiving social services, and have a higher number of previous prison sentences (Birmingham, Mason, and Grubin 1999;DeMello 1993). Inmates with more visible and antisocial-themed tattoos have also been found to be at greater risk for recidivism and to have had more behavioral problems and therefore more sanctions while in prison, than inmates with fewer and nonprison-tattoos (nonantisocial-themed tattoos) (Lozano et al 2011).…”

Tattoos und Piercings: Motive für Körpermodifi­kationen bei Frauen mit Borderline-Symptomatik

“…Wiederholt zeigte sich gleichwohl, dass "Sensation Seeking" -also das habituelle Streben nach neuartiger und intensiver Stimulation [ 10 ] -bei Modifi zierten signifi kant stärker ausgeprägt vorliegt als bei Nicht-Modifi zierten [ 5 , 8 , 11 ] . In Untersuchungen an klinisch auffälligen und/oder devianten Stichproben fi nden sich schließlich Zusammenhänge zwischen Tätowierungen und/oder Piercings und verschiedenen Markern psychopathologischer Belastung: Birmingham und Mason [ 12 ] fanden hinsichtlich auff älliger (Gesichts-oder Hals-) Tattoos von Gefangenen Zusammenhänge mit Substanzmissbrauch, Selbstverletzung, gewalttätigem Verhalten und Psychiatrieerfahrung. Auf der Basis einer Literaturübersicht konstatieren Bui und Kollegen [ 13 ] deutliche positive Zusammenhänge zwischen Piercings und "risk-taking behavior", wie Drogenkonsum, risikoreichen Sexualkontakten, problematischem Spielverhalten und riskanten Verhaltensweisen im Zusammenhang mit Alkohol.…”

Tattoos: what is their significance?

“…The available research into shape, size, location, arrangement and content of tattoos and their relationship to any particular psychiatric disorder is limited and inconclusive (Ferguson-Rayport 1955;Post 1968;Gittleson 1969;Measey 1972;Newman 1982;Birmingham 1999). Individuals with personality disorder are more likely to have multiple and visible tattoos when compared with patients with schizophrenia (Gittleson 1969), and there appears to be some association between the number of tattoos and presence of a personality disorder.…”

“…Buhrich & Morris (1982), in a study of in-patient admissions, reported a prevalence of more than 30% for both schizophrenia and personality disorders among those with tattoos. In a study of remand prisoners, Birmingham et al (1999) reported an association between visible tattoos and lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia.…”

“…Tattoos are common among both adult and adolescent prisoners (Post 1968;Newman 1982;Birmingham 1999;Strang 2000;Hellard 2007). Prevalence rates ranging from three to five times those in the general population have been reported (Strang 2000;Hellard 2007).…”