1
|
Witt K, Stewart A, Hawton K. Practitioner Review: Treatments for young people who self-harm - challenges and recommendations for research and clinical practice. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024. [PMID: 39194179 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.14052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-harm is very common in young people and is associated with suicide. Rates of both self-harm and suicide have increased in young people, particularly in females. There is a clear need to identify new approaches to prevent repeat self-harm. METHOD We significantly update and build on previous reviews with the aim of identifying issues in research relevant to clinical practice. We identify challenges in developing, implementing and evaluating treatments for self-harm in children and adolescents, suggest a way forward for research, and provide clear and practical guidance for clinicians on how to apply current research evidence in the real world. RESULTS Currently, there is limited evidence for effective interventions, other than some support for dialectical behaviour therapy for adolescents (DBT-A). To improve research and, by extension, clinical practice, future studies need to address psychosocial factors associated with youth self-harm and suicide, investigate the critical mechanism(s) of action, ensure trials are sufficiently powered and representative, and involve young people more actively in the design, implementation and evaluation of these approaches. Consideration should also be given to alternative research designs, such as pragmatic or adaptive clinical trials, as well as registry-based randomised controlled trials which leverage administrative data collected in routine clinical practice, to help meet these goals. CONCLUSIONS Recommendations for practice include undertaking comprehensive assessment and formulation, and offering DBT-A where indicated. There should be further development and evaluation (with input from young people) of Cognitive Behavioural-based Therapy adapted for young people. Greater attention to the role of the therapeutic relationship and family involvement (where possible) is also an important considerations, irrespective of the specific therapeutic modality. Finally, more consideration should be given to improving staff training to ensure all clinical staff feel equipped to treat young people who self-harm in a person-centred and compassionate manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Witt
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
- Orygen, Parkville, Vic., Australia
| | - Anne Stewart
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Keith Hawton
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Suicide Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pollock Z, Draper G, Constantine W, Chalker E, Freebairn L. Injury hospitalisations for children and young people: a 20-year review. Inj Prev 2024; 30:298-304. [PMID: 38246691 DOI: 10.1136/ip-2023-045099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood injuries can have significant lifelong consequences. Quantifying and understanding patterns in injury severity can inform targeted prevention strategies and policies. This study examines the characteristics of child injury hospitalisations in the Australian Capital Territory over 20 years. METHODS This study is a retrospective analysis of Admitted Patient Care Collection data for persons aged 0-24 years who were hospitalised for an injury between July 2000 and June 2020. Injury severity was assessed using International Classification of Injury Severity Scores based on survival risk ratios. RESULTS The age standardised rate for injury hospitalisations increased significantly from 10.2 per 1000 in 2000/2001 to 21.0 per 1000 in 2019/2020, representing an average annual per cent change of 3.6%. Almost two-thirds of injuries were for men, however the rate of injury hospitalisations increased more rapidly in women. The majority of injuries (81.8%) were classified as minor. The proportion of injuries classified as serious increased with age. For moderate and serious injuries, injuries to the head were the most common type of injury, while falls were the leading cause. Self-harm injuries emerged as a leading contributor to the increase in injuries in young people aged 13-24 years old. CONCLUSION This study emphasises the concerning upward trend in injury hospitalisations among children and young people over the past two decades. Given Australia is yet to formalise a national injury prevention strategy, understanding the patterns and characteristics of injuries is vital to developing effective prevention interventions to reduce harm and improve child safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Pollock
- ACT Health, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Glenn Draper
- ACT Health, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Will Constantine
- ACT Community Services Directorate, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Chalker
- ACT Health, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Biological Data Science Institute, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Louise Freebairn
- ACT Health, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gao Y, Liu J, Liu X, Wang Y, Qiu S. Dimensions of family stress and repetitive nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescence: Examining the interactive effects of impulsivity and emotion dysregulation. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2024; 152:106804. [PMID: 38636157 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repetitive non-suicidal self-injury (R-NSSI) in adolescence represents a significant risk factor for suicide. Although exposure to family stress is robustly associated with the risk of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), studies have not examined the potential mechanisms linking different forms of family stress and R-NSSI. OBJECTIVE This study examined how unique dimensions of family stress (threat and deprivation) relate to R-NSSI via interactions between impulsivity and emotion dysregulation. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING The current sample included 3801 middle-school adolescents (42.2 % girls, Mage = 13.21 years). METHODS We conducted a two-wave study with 6-month intervals. Participants completed self-report measures assessing family stress, impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, and NSSI. RESULTS Moderate mediation analyses showed that threat was indirectly associated with NSSI frequency through the interaction of impulsivity and emotion dysregulation in the R-NSSI group and indirectly through impulsivity in the occasional NSSI (O-NSSI) group. Deprivation did not predict subsequent NSSI frequency in either group. CONCLUSIONS These findings lend empirical support to dimensional models of adversity and suggest that adolescents who experience threat-related family stress may have greater impulsivity and are more likely to report R-NSSI in the context of emotion dysregulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yemiao Gao
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinmeng Liu
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Liu
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Yumeng Wang
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Shaojie Qiu
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cherry JC, Fitzpatrick EA, Sandila NK, Lovas D, Hurley KF. Non-suicidal self-injury at a Canadian paediatric emergency department. CAN J EMERG MED 2024; 26:259-265. [PMID: 38565769 DOI: 10.1007/s43678-024-00657-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our primary objective was to determine agreement between non-suicidal self-injury recorded at triage and during subsequent mental health assessment. The secondary objective was to describe patients who reported non-suicidal self-injury. METHODS This is a health records review of patients aged 12-18 years who had an Emergency Mental Health Triage form on their health record from an ED visit June 1, 2017-May 31, 2018. We excluded patients with diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia. We abstracted data from the Mental Health Triage form, Emergency Mental Health and Addictions Service Assessment forms and Assessment of Suicide and Risk Inventory. We calculated Cohen's Kappa coefficient, sensitivity, and negative predictive value to describe the extent to which the forms agreed and the performance of triage for identifying non-suicidal self-injury. We compared the cohort who reported non-suicidal self-injury with those who did not, using t-tests, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and chi-square tests. RESULTS We screened 955 ED visits and included 914 ED visits where 558 (58.4%) reported a history of non-suicidal self-injury. There were significantly more females in the group reporting non-suicidal self-injury (82.1%, n = 458) compared to the group not reporting non-suicidal self-injury (45.8%, n = 163). Patients reporting non-suicidal self-injury did so in triage and detailed Mental Health Assessment 64.7% of the time (Cohen's Kappa Coefficient 0.6); triage had sensitivity of 71.5% (95% CI 67.3-75.4) and negative predictive value of 71.2% (95% CI 68.2-74.0). Cutting was the most common method of non-suicidal self-injury (80.3%). CONCLUSION Screening at triage was moderately effective in identifying non-suicidal self-injury compared to a detailed assessment by a specialised mental health team. More than half of children and adolescents with a mental health-related concern in our ED reported a history of non-suicidal self-injury, most of which were female. This symptom is important for delineating patients' coping strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan C Cherry
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, IWK Health Emergency Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| | - Eleanor A Fitzpatrick
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, IWK Health Emergency Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - David Lovas
- Department of Psychiatry, IWK Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Katrina F Hurley
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, IWK Health Emergency Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Liu J, Wang H, Xing S, Liu X. Sensitivity to reward and punishment in adolescents with repetitive non-suicidal self-injury: The role of inhibitory control. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2024; 24:100456. [PMID: 38577656 PMCID: PMC10992695 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2024.100456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Repetitive Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (R-NSSI) is complex and prevalent in adolescents. Although the reward system is a promising mechanism to explain R-NSSI, the specific processes of reward and punishment related to R-NSSI remain unclear. This study examined whether adolescents with R-NSSI displayed difficulties in both reward and punishment contexts, and further explored the role of inhibitory control in processing monetary reward and punishment. Methods Within a cohort from two middle schools (N = 3,475, 48.6 % female, Mage = 12.95), a total of 187 adolescents completed three novel behavioral tasks. Specifically, in Study 1, 36 adolescents with R-NSSI and 28 without NSSI completed adapted incentive-delay tasks to evaluate sensitivity to reward and punishment. In Study 2, 27 adolescents with R-NSSI and 21 without NSSI were given novel incentive delay-two choice oddball task to evaluate the interaction between reward and inhibitory control. In Study 3, 38 adolescents with R-NSSI and 35 without NSSI completed similar task to assess the interaction between punishment and inhibitory control. Results Adolescents with R-NSSI were characterized by higher levels of behavioral reward and punishment sensitivity than adolescents without NSSI. More importantly, the difference between reward and punishment in inhibitory control of R-NSSI was found. Compared to adolescents without NSSI, adolescents with R-NSSI showed lower levels of inhibitory control in response to cues depicting punishment content but not to those depicting reward content. Conclusions This study provides novel experimental evidence that heightened behavioral sensitivity to both reward and punishment may be relevant trait marker in R-NSSI among adolescents, and emphasizes that punishment not reward interact with inhibitory control in the R-NSSI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinmeng Liu
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Hui Wang
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, PR China
| | - Shufen Xing
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Xia Liu
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu J, Wang Y, Liu X, Li J, Xing S. Experiencing stress impact on adolescent repetitive nonsuicidal self-injury: The Mediating role of emotion dysregulation and maladaptive cognitive schemas. J Affect Disord 2023; 339:392-399. [PMID: 37463641 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repetitive nonsuicidal self-injury (R-NSSI) is a growing concern in adolescents and is associated with various mental health problems. However, little is known about the potential psychology and addiction mechanisms of R-NSSI in adolescents. This study aimed to examine the mediating effects of emotion dysregulation and maladaptive cognitive schemas based on the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model and the integrated model of NSSI among adolescents who repeatedly engage in NSSI. METHODS This longitudinal study was conducted in two waves with 6-month lags. A total of 3925 adolescents (Mage = 13.22 ± 0.86 years, 42 % female) were recruited from three middle schools. Relevant questionnaires were used to evaluate stressful life events, emotion dysregulation, maladaptive cognitive schemas, NSSI, and NSSI addictive features. The structural equation modeling approach was conducted separately for adolescents who engaged in occasional NSSI (O-NSSI) and those who engaged in R-NSSI. RESULTS Results showed that emotion dysregulation played a significant mediating role in the associations between stressful life events and NSSI frequency, and both maladaptive cognitive schemas and emotion dysregulation played a significant mediating role in the associations between stressful life events and NSSI addictive features in adolescents who engaged in R-NSSI but not in those who engaged in O-NSSI. LIMITATIONS The main limiting factor is self-reported data. CONCLUSIONS These findings contribute to the understanding of the psychological and addictive mechanisms involved in R-NSSI. Both emotion dysregulation and maladaptive cognitive schemas could be a suitable therapeutic target to reduce R-NSSI in the context of stress during adolescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinmeng Liu
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yumeng Wang
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Liu
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Jinwen Li
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Shufen Xing
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|