Social Psychiatry, Vol. 49 No. 3, 2021.
Case report
https://doi.org/10.24869/spsih.2021.214
Proud to Have a Tattoo of Vrapče
Valentina Marinović
; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče
Marta Skelin
; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče
Suzana Uzun
; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Oliver Kozumplik
; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče
Ninoslav Mimica
; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Tattoos are present in almost every part of the world, as well as in almost every period of history. The role of tattoos has
changed throughout history, from marking offenders and enabling the members of a particular community to recognize
each other to the ultimate role of adorning the body and thus expressing certain emotions or attitudes. Although tattoo
wearers were once highly stigmatized, this trend has changed significantly and we are currently witnessing a sharp rise in
the popularity of tattooing. Many reasons for tattooing have been described, ranging from the need to beautify, express
individuality or emotions to the need to mark one’s affiliation to various social groups or to express resistance to authority.
Tattoos are also linked to certain psychiatric disorders. In the tattooed population, the incidence of dissocial personality
disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, and borderline and other personality disorders is higher. Yet, tattoos allow the individual
to express their feelings, values and attitudes, as well as to maintain a positive image of their own identity. This paper
describes a patient with numerous tattoos, their meaning during the treatment of the patient as well as the importance
that tattoos have for him. Special attention was paid to the tattoo of the building of the University Psychiatric Hospital
Vrapče, where the patient was hospitalized on several occasions, since this tattoo was the patient’s attempt to express
gratitude for the treatment provided.
Keywords
History; Tattoo; Patient; Psychopathology; Motivational Factors; Hospital
Hrčak ID:
272107
URI
Publication date:
8.2.2022.
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