The association of non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behavior according to DSM-5 in adolescent psychiatric inpatients

The Role of Hopelessness in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder

BACKGROUND

The goal of this study was to evaluate specific characteristics associated with hopelessness, potentially correlated with coping strategies, sensory profile, and alexithymia in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred twenty-four (N=224) inpatients completed a clinical interview with administration of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (COPE), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS).

RESULTS

Hopelessness was significantly associated with female gender, more hospitalizations, current suicidal ideation, number of suicide attempts, current and lifetime medication abuse, and alcohol misuse. Furthermore, patients with BHS ≥ 9 had higher scores in low registration, sensory sensitivity and sensation avoiding in AASP, higher rate of alexithymia, and the use of maladaptive coping strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Hopelessness in BPD was associated with higher severity of illness, alternative process sensory input from the environment, reduced ability to cope with stressful events, and alexithymia. Therefore, a routine assessment of hopelessness in patients with BPD could lead to better and more specific therapeutic strategies.

Adverse childhood experiences, gender, and suicidality among Florida high school students: Examining intervening mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) represent a key risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among adolescents. However, the intervening mechanisms linking ACEs and suicidality, and whether such processes vary by gender, remain underexplored.

OBJECTIVE

The present study examines whether the relationships between ACEs and the likelihood of experiencing suicidal thoughts and attempting suicide are indirect through depressive symptoms and low self-control. This study also investigates whether these direct and indirect paths might be moderated by gender.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The analyses make use of data on a statewide representative sample of students enrolled in public high schools in Florida (N = 23,078) from the 2022 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS).

METHODS

Generalized structural equation modeling (GSEM) was used to estimate the direct and indirect effects of ACEs on the likelihood of suicidal thoughts and attempting suicide. The indirect effects were assessed using bootstrapping, and between-gender differences in the coefficients were tested.

RESULTS

ACEs has direct associations with depressive symptoms, low self-control, and both suicidality outcomes. The effects of ACEs on suicidal thoughts are indirect through both depressive symptoms and low self-control, and the effects of ACEs on suicide attempts are indirect through depressive symptoms. Limited gender differences in these pathways emerge.

CONCLUSIONS

For male and female youth, ACEs are associated with heightened depression symptoms and reduced self-control, and both of these factors partially explain the previously established relationship between ACEs and suicidality.

Positive effects of parent-child group emotional regulation and resilience training on nonsuicidal self-injury behavior in adolescents: a quasi-experimental study

Background

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents is a growing global concern. However, effective interventions for treating NSSI are limited.

Method

A 36-week quasi-experimental study design of parent-child group resilience training (intervention group) for adolescents aged 12-17 years was used and compared with treatment-as-usual (control group). The primary endpoint was the frequency of NSSI assessed with the Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory (OSI), and the secondary endpoints were the levels of depression, hope, resilience, and family adaptability and cohesion as assessed by the 24-item Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD-24), Herth Hope Scale (HHS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale, second edition (FACES-II-CV), respectively.

Result

A total of 118 participants completed the trial. Both groups showed a significant reduction in NSSI frequency after 12, 24, and 36 weeks of intervention (p< 0.05), although the intervention group did not differ significantly from the control group. After 12, 24, and 36 weeks of intervention, the CD-RISC, HHS, HAMD-24, and FACES-II-CV scores in the intervention and control groups improved over baseline (p< 0.05). Furthermore, the intervention group had higher scores on the CD-RISC, HHS, and FACES-II-CV and lower scores on the HAMD-24 than the control group after 12, 24, and 36 weeks of intervention (p  < 0.05).

Conclusion

Parent-child group emotional regulation and resilience training showed promise as treatment options for NSSI among adolescents, leading to increased hope, resilience, and improved family dynamics among NSSI teens. Moreover, NSSI frequency significantly decreased in the intervention group compared to baseline.

Factors and pathways of non-suicidal self-injury in children: insights from computational causal analysis

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has become a significant public health issue, especially prevalent among adolescents. The complexity and multifactorial nature of NSSI necessitate a comprehensive understanding of its underlying causal factors. This research leverages the causal discovery methodology to explore these causal associations in children.

Methods

An observational dataset was scrutinized using the causal discovery method, particularly employing the constraint-based approach. By integrating machine learning and causal inference techniques, the study aimed to determine direct causal relationships associated with NSSI. The robustness of the causal relationships was evaluated using three methods to construct and validate it: the PC (Peter and Clark) method, Fast Causal Inference (FCI) method, and the GAE (Graphical Autoencoder) method.

Results

Analysis identified nine nodes with direct causal relationships to NSSI, including life satisfaction, depression, family dysfunction, sugary beverage consumption, PYD (positive youth development), internet addiction, COVID-19 related PTSD, academic anxiety, and sleep duration. Four principal causal pathways were identified, highlighting the roles of lockdown-induced lifestyle changes, screen time, positive adolescent development, and family dynamics in influencing NSSI risk.

Conclusions

An in-depth analysis of the factors leading to Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI), highlighting the intricate connections among individual, family, and pandemic-related influences. The results, derived from computational causal analysis, underscore the critical need for targeted interventions that tackle these diverse causative factors.

Using decision tree to predict non-suicidal self-injury among young adults: the role of depression, childhood maltreatment and recent bullying victimization

Importance: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a significant mental health issue requiring a deeper understanding of its underlying causes, such as childhood maltreatment, adult bullying victimization, and depression. Previous studies have not adequately addressed the cumulative risks of these factors on NSSI among college students. This population-based study investigates these cumulative risk factors.Design, setting, and participants: The cross-sectional study included 63 university's college students with a mean age of 19.6 years (N = 95,833).Main outcomes and measures: Two Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) decision tree models were used to classify subgroups based on childhood maltreatment and adult bullying victimization experiences and to investigate their cumulative risks of NSSI. Recursive partitioning algorithms determined each predictor variable's relative importance.Results: The CHAID model accurately predicted NSSI behaviours with an overall accuracy rate of 77.8% for individuals with clinically relevant depressive symptoms and 97.2% for those without. Among depressed individuals, childhood emotional abuse was the strongest NSSI predictor (Chi-Square, 650.747; adjusted P < .001), followed by sexual and physical abuse. For non-depressed individuals, emotional abuse in childhood was the strongest NSSI predictor (Chi-Square, 2084.171; adjusted P < .001), with sexual and verbal bullying in the past year representing the most significant proximal risks.Conclusions and relevance: Emotional abuse during childhood profoundly impacts individuals, increasing the risk of NSSI in both depressed and non-depressed individuals. Clinically relevant depressive symptoms have a moderating effect on the relationship between childhood maltreatment, adult bullying victimization, and NSSI. Identifying these factors can inform targeted interventions to prevent NSSI development among young adults.

Identifying clinical risk factors correlated with addictive features of non-suicidal self-injury among a consecutive psychiatric outpatient sample of adolescents and young adults

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an issue primarily of concern in adolescents and young adults. Recent literature suggests that persistent, repetitive, and uncontrollable NSSI can be conceptualized as a behavioral addiction. The study aimed to examine the prevalence of NSSI with addictive features and the association of this prevalence with demographic and clinical variables using a cross-sectional and case-control design. A total of 548 outpatients (12 to 22 years old) meeting the criteria for NSSI disorder of DSM-5 were enrolled and completed clinical interviews by 4 psychiatrists. NSSI with addictive features were determined by using a single-factor structure of addictive features items in the Ottawa self-injury inventory (OSI). Current suicidality, psychiatric diagnosis, the OSI, the revised Chinese Internet Addiction Scale, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale were collected. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to explore associations between risk factors and NSSI with addictive features. This study was conducted from April 2021 to May 2022. The mean age of participants was 15.93 (SD = 2.56) years with 418 females (76.3%), and the prevalence of addictive NSSI was 57.5% (n = 315). Subjects with addictive NSSI had a higher lifetime prevalence of nicotine and alcohol use, a higher prevalence of current internet addiction, suicidality, and alexithymia, and were more likely to have physical abuse/neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse than NSSI subjects without addictive features. Among participants with NSSI, the strongest predictors of addictive features of NSSI were female (OR = 2.405, 95% CI 1.512-3.824, p < 0.0001), alcohol use (OR = 2.179, 95% CI 1.378-3.446, p = 0.001), current suicidality (OR = 3.790, 95% CI 2.351-6.109, p < 0.0001), and psysical abuse in childhood (OR = 2.470, 95% CI 1.653-3.690, p < 0.0001). Nearly 3 out of 5 patients (12-22 years old) with NSSI met the criteria of NSSI with addictive features in this psychiatric outpatients sample. Our study demonstrated the importance of the necessity to regularly assess suicide risk, and alcohol use, as well as focus more on females and subjects who had physical abuse in childhood to prevent addictive NSSI.

Hurting myself to cope: Using network analysis to understand the association between perceived stigma and non-suicidal self-injury functions among men who have sex with men in China

Prior studies have demonstrated that perceived stigma is robustly associated with risky and life-threatening behaviors, including non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, studies regarding the relationship between perceived stigma and NSSI are limited. The present study aimed to investigate the network structure of perceived stigma and NSSI functions, along with bridge nodes, to elucidate how they co-exist. A sample of 2610 Chinese MSM (mean age = 23.99, age range: 18-68 years) was recruited from an online survey platform. All participants completed a web-based survey with measures of perceived stigma and NSSI functions. Results indicated that 'negative attitudes towards homosexuality' and 'disappointment in gay son' were identified as the most central nodes in the perceived stigma network, whereas 'seeking attention' and 'influencing others to change' ranked highest on centrality in the NSSI network. Two bridge connections were exhibited within the combined perceived stigma and NSSI network model: 'unwelcoming in public' and 'avoiding unpleasant tasks' from perceived stigma and NSSI communities, respectively. This is among the first studies investigating the co-occurrence between perceived stigma and NSSI from the network approach. Our findings provide an empirically-based perspective on the importance of family- and community-based interventions, with potential clinical implications for reducing NSSI among sexual and gender minority groups.

DSM-5 suicidal behavior disorder: a systematic review of research on clinical utility, diagnostic boundaries, measures, pathophysiology and interventions

Background

It has been a decade since Suicidal Behavior Disorder (SBD) was introduced in Section III of the DSM-5 under "Conditions for Further Study". SBD is chiefly characterized by a self-initiated sequence of behaviors believed at the time of initiation to cause one's own death and occurring in the last 24 months.

Aims

To systematically review empirical studies on SBD to identify primary research themes and promising future research directions.

Method

A search of empirical articles on SBD published between May 2013 and March 2023 was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Results

Screening of 73 records by two independent raters yielded 14 eligible articles. The primary research themes identified from these articles included clinical utility of SBD to predict future suicide risk, association of SBD with closely related disorders, psychometric properties of SBD measures, pathophysiology of SBD, and the effectiveness of interventions for people with SBD.

Conclusion

Understanding of SBD has slowly progressed since its introduction a decade ago and has mainly been applied in research to define study groups displaying suicidal behavior. The clinical utility of SBD for predicting future suicide risk is low and more research is needed to understand measurement of the diagnosis and its distinctiveness from related disorders and other self-harming behaviors.

The pooled prevalence and influential factors of non-suicidal self-injury in non-clinical samples during the COVID-19 outbreak: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has had an enormous impact on the mental health of people around the world, particularly adolescents. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is one of the most prominent and dangerous behaviors associated with suicide. However, few meta-analyses of the NSSI prevalence have ever been conducted since the COVID-19 outbreak. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the pooled prevalence and elucidate the influencing factors for NSSI.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, APA PsycINFO, CNKI and Wanfang Database for relevant literature published before April 2022. Pooled prevalence and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were used to assess NSSI prevalence. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed to clarify the potential influencing factors.

RESULTS

A total of 15 studies with 24,055 participants were eventually included. The results showed that the pooled overall prevalence of NSSI among overall samples during the COVID-19 pandemic was 22.5 % (95 % CI: 17.2 % to 28.9 %). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses revealed that the crucial influencing factors for NSSI included gender, age, regional distribution, and suicidal ideation. Specifically, the NSSI prevalence among adolescents and adults during the pandemic was 32.40 % and 15.70 %, respectively. Most importantly, gender is a significant influencing factor for NSSI among adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

The pooled prevalence of NSSI during the COVID-19 outbreak has surged to alarming heights, especially among adolescents. The prevalence of NSSI may be influenced by complex factors such as gender and age. Therefore, it is critical to pay attention to NSSI behaviors in the adolescent population, particularly male adolescents who appear to be susceptible.

Frequency and predictors of individual treatment outcomes (response, remission, exacerbation, and relapse) in clinical adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury

BACKGROUND

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is prevalent in adolescent clinical samples. There is evidence that NSSI can be treated effectively but data on individual treatment outcomes is limited. The goal of this study was to examine response, remission, exacerbation, and relapse rates over one and two years, respectively, among a clinical sample of adolescents with NSSI. Furthermore, we aimed to identify clinically relevant predictors of NSSI trajectories.

METHODS

The sample consists of n = 203 adolescents (12-17 y., 94% female) from a specialized outpatient clinic for risk-taking and self-harming behavior with NSSI on at least five days in the six months before first assessment. Assessments were completed at baseline and one (FU1) and two (FU2) years later using structured clinical interviews and self-report questionnaires.

RESULTS

At FU1, 75% reported a reduction in NSSI frequency by at least 50% (treatment response); among those, one third (25% of the entire sample) achieved a remission (0 NSSI); an exacerbation (⩾50% more NSSI) was observed in 11% of patients. Of those in remission, 41% relapsed one year later. Predictors of non-response or non-remission were inpatient treatment and depressive symptoms. Adolescents with lower NSSI frequency at baseline had a higher risk of exacerbation. Due to limited sample size at FU2 no prediction model for relapse was established.

CONCLUSIONS

While most adolescents presenting with NSSI achieved significant improvement, more attention should be paid to the rather low rates of full remission. Prediction and early detection of individuals who deteriorate during or relapse after treatment is critical.

Early Adverse Family Experiences and Elevated Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Predict Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Females with Non-Psychotic Mental Disorders and Suicidal Ideation

Nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI), prevalent in patients with non-psychotic mental disorders (NPMD), is associated with numerous adverse outcomes. Despite active research into the clinical and psychological aspects of NSSI, the underlying biological mechanisms remain obscure. Early adverse experiences are believed to induce long-lasting changes in neuroendocrine mechanisms of stress control playing a key role in NSSI development. The aim of the study was to evaluate parameters potentially predicting development of NSSI in female patients with NPMD and suicidal ideation. Eighty female patients over 18 years with NPMD and suicidal ideation (40 with and 40 without NSSI) and 48 age matching women without evidence of mental illness (healthy controls) were enrolled. Diagnostic interviews and self-report measures were used to assess childhood maltreatment, presence, frequency, and characteristics of suicidal and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, the Beck Depression Inventory scale to assess severity of depression. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis markers, hormones, and neurotrophic factors were measured in blood serum. The likelihood of developing NSSI in patients with NPMD and suicidal ideation was associated with early adverse family history and elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone levels. Dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as a result of early chronic stress experiences may represent critical biological mechanism promoting the development of NSSI behaviors in patients with NPMD.

The Clinical Interview for Borderline Personality Disorder for Adolescents (CI-BOR-A): Development, acceptability and expert panel evaluation

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental disorder with marked impulsivity, instability, emotional dysregulation and self-harm. These features tend to develop over time and can be identified in adolescence. Early diagnosis is the first step to prevent the development of these features to a personality disorder. The purpose of this study was to develop the Clinical Interview for BPD for Adolescents (CI-BOR-A), a new instrument based on a sound clinical interview for BPD in youth (CI-BPD). We tested its acceptability with 43 adolescents and its content validity with the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of 23 experts in mental health. The CI-BOR-A is a hybrid semi-structured interview that considers both categorical and dimensional approaches of personality disorders of DSM-5-TR, including 16 items, decision tables for diagnosis, and an appendix to explore self-harm history further. Adolescents accepted the interview, and none refused to complete the assessment. The expert panel considered the interview relevant, clear, accurate and complete. Important feedback was provided in terms of structure and content to improve the CI-BOR-A quality. In general, the CI-BOR-A is a rigorous interview to assess BPD in adolescents and adds an important contribution to early detection in clinical and community settings.

Universal prevention for non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents is scarce - A systematic review

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) during adolescence is a high-risk marker for the development and persistence of mental health problems and has been recognized as a significant public health problem. Whereas targeted prevention has indeed shown to be effective in reducing NSSI and improve mental health problems, access to such programs is limited. By face validity, universal prevention of NSSI seems an ideal starting point for a stepped-care model to circumvent a lack of resources in the medical care system. However, it is yet unclear how effective such approaches are. Here, we provide a summary of existing work on universal prevention of NSSI in adolescents younger than 21 years based on a systematic literature search. We found that only seven studies are available. None of the programs evaluated was found to be effective in reducing the incidence or frequency of NSSI. After providing a comprehensive summary of the existing work, we evaluate the fact that existing work primarily focusses on selected/targeted prevention and on psychoeducational methods. We derive implications for future directions in the field of universal prevention of NSSI.

Stress-induced alterations in resting-state functional connectivity among adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury

BACKGROUND

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major mental health problem among youth worldwide. Dysfunction in emotion regulation contributes to NSSI, but research on the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of NSSI is limited. Adolescents with emotion regulation difficulties are vulnerable to stress, making them susceptible to maladaptive coping mechanisms such as NSSI.

METHODS

This study examined the functional neurocircuitry relevant to emotion regulation and stress coping in individuals with NSSI compared with healthy controls. This case-control study included 34 adolescents with NSSI (15.91 years) and 28 (16.0 years) unaffected controls. Participants underwent a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan before and after completing a laboratory stress-induction paradigm (the Montreal Imaging Stress Test). The effects of stress induction were quantified by both physiological measures and self-reports.

RESULTS

Participants with NSSI showed distinctive alterations in functional resting-state following stress induction, which differentiated them from unaffected controls. Results show a reduction in functional connectivity between frontoparietal regions and the angular gyrus within the patient group compared to controls, as well as an increase in functional connectivity between visual regions, the insular cortex, the planum polare, and the central opercular cortex. After conditions of acute stress, adolescents with NSSI show changes in functional connectivity of regions associated with sensorimotor alertness, attention, and effortful emotion regulation.

LIMITATIONS

The patient group showed both NSSI and suicidal behavior, therefore results might be partly due to suicidality.

CONCLUSION

The findings emphasize the importance of targeting emotion regulation within therapeutic approaches to enhance stress coping capacity, which in turn may contribute to counteracting self-injurious behavior.

Potential mechanisms of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in major depressive disorder: a systematic review

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a frequent and prominent phenomenon in major depressive disorder (MDD). Even though its prevalence and risk factors are relatively well understood, the potential mechanisms of NSSI in MDD remain elusive.

Aims

To review present evidence related to the potential mechanisms of NSSI in MDD.

Methods

According to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines, articles for this systematic review were searched on Medline (through PubMed), Embase (through Elsevier), PsycINFO (through OVID) and Web of Science databases for English articles, as well as China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), SinoMed, Wanfang Data, and the Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical (VIP) Databases for Chinese articles published from the date of inception to 2 August 2022. Two researchers (BW, HZ) independently screened studies based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and assessed their quality.

Results

A total of 25 157 studies were searched. Only 25 of them were ultimately included, containing 3336 subjects (1535 patients with MDD and NSSI, 1403 patients with MDD without NSSI and 398 HCs). Included studies were divided into 6 categories: psychosocial factors (11 studies), neuroimaging (8 studies), stress and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (2 studies), pain perception (1 study), electroencephalogram (EEG) (2 studies) and epigenetics (1 study).

Conclusions

This systematic review indicates that patients with MDD and NSSI might have specific psychosocial factors, aberrant brain functions and neurochemical metabolisms, HPA axis dysfunctions, abnormal pain perceptions and epigenetic alterations.

Association between life events, anxiety, depression and non-suicidal self-injury behavior in Chinese psychiatric adolescent inpatients: a cross-sectional study

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major public health concern among adolescents. Further research is needed into contributors to this behavior, in particular among adolescents with psychiatric disorders. The aim of the present study was to explore the impact of life events and emotional stress on NSSI among hospitalized psychiatric adolescents.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 505 Chinese psychiatric adolescent inpatients 10-19  years old completed questionnaires about sociodemographic characteristics and NSSI as well as the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Chi-square test was used to compare the incidence of NSSI in psychiatric adolescent patients with different sociodemographic. T-test was used to compare the total scores and dimension scores of the ASLEC, STAI-Y, and CES-D between the NSSI group and the non-NSSI group. A binary logistic regression model was built to explore the relationships among sociodemographic characteristics, questionnaire scores and NSSI.

Results

Most psychiatric adolescent inpatients (393, 77.8%) reported NSSI behavior. The higher risk for NSSI was observed among female (odds ratio [OR] 2.665, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.575-4.510), younger adolescents (10-14 years; OR 2.021, 95% CI 1.258-3.245), with a suicide history (OR 2.479, 95% CI 1.549-3.967), or with depression symptom (OR 3.217, 95% CI 1.572-6.582) and those with higher scores of ASLEC (OR 1.019, 95% CI 1.010-1.029).

Conclusion

Our study in China is one of the first to apply to adolescent inpatients the diagnostic criteria of NSSI in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Our analysis suggests that NSSI prevalence is disturbingly high among adolescents with mental illness in China. A better understanding of contributing factors, especially negative life events and negative emotions, may guide interventions that can reduce its prevalence.

The Detection of Acute Risk of Self-injury Project: Protocol for an Ecological Momentary Assessment Study Among Individuals Seeking Treatment

BACKGROUND

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major mental health concern. Despite increased research efforts on establishing the prevalence and correlates of the presence and severity of NSSI, we still lack basic knowledge of the course, predictors, and relationship of NSSI with other self-damaging behaviors in daily life. Such information will be helpful for better informing mental health professionals and allocating treatment resources. The DAILY (Detection of Acute rIsk of seLf-injurY) project will address these gaps among individuals seeking treatment.

OBJECTIVE

This protocol paper presents the DAILY project's aims, design, and materials used. The primary objectives are to advance understanding of (1) the short-term course and contexts of elevated risk for NSSI thoughts, urges, and behavior; (2) the transition from NSSI thoughts and urges to NSSI behavior; and (3) the association of NSSI with disordered eating, substance use, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. A secondary aim is to evaluate the perspectives of individuals seeking treatment and mental health professionals regarding the feasibility, scope, and utility of digital self-monitoring and interventions that target NSSI in daily life.

METHODS

The DAILY project is funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (Belgium). Data collection involves 3 phases: a baseline assessment (phase 1), 28 days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) followed by a clinical session and feedback survey (phase 2), and 2 follow-up surveys and an optional interview (phase 3). The EMA protocol consists of regular EMA surveys (6 times per day), additional burst EMA surveys spaced at a higher frequency when experiencing intense NSSI urges (3 surveys within 30 minutes), and event registrations of NSSI behavior. The primary outcomes are NSSI thoughts, NSSI urges, self-efficacy to resist NSSI, and NSSI behavior, with disordered eating (restrictive eating, binge eating, and purging), substance use (binge drinking and smoking cannabis), and suicidal thoughts and behaviors surveyed as secondary outcomes. The assessed predictors include emotions, cognitions, contextual information, and social appraisals.

RESULTS

We will recruit approximately 120 individuals seeking treatment aged 15 to 39 years from mental health services across the Flanders region of Belgium. Recruitment began in June 2021 and data collection is anticipated to conclude in August 2023.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the DAILY project will provide a detailed characterization of the short-term course and patterns of risk for NSSI and advance understanding of how, why, and when NSSI and other self-damaging behaviors unfold among individuals seeking treatment. This will inform clinical practice and provide the scientific building blocks for novel intervention approaches outside of the therapy room that support people who self-injure in real time.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/46244.

Gender difference in the associations of childhood maltreatment and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents with mood disorders

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a common feature among adolescents with mood disorders. Although childhood maltreatment has shown to be associated with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), previous studies have yielded mixed results in terms of different subtypes of childhood maltreatment and only few studies have investigated the effects of gender. The present cross-sectional study investigated effects of different types of childhood maltreatment on NSSI, as well as the role of gender in these effects.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 142 Chinese adolescent inpatients with mood disorders (37 males and 105 females) were consecutively recruited within a psychiatric hospital. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Participants were administered the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation (FASM).

Results

76.8% of the sample reported engaging NSSI in the previous 12  months. Female participants were more likely to engage in NSSI than males (p < 0.001). Participants in the NSSI group reported significantly more experiences of emotional abuse (p < 0.001) and emotional neglect (p = 0.005). With regards to gender differences, female participants who have experienced emotional abuse were more likely to engage in NSSI (p = 0.03).

Conclusion

As a whole, NSSI represents a frequent phenomenon among adolescent clinical populations and females were more likely to engage in NSSI than males. NSSI was significantly related to experiences of childhood maltreatment and specifically related to emotional abuse and emotional neglect over and above other types of childhood maltreatment. Females were more sensitive to emotional abuse than males. Our study highlights the importance of screening for subtypes of childhood maltreatment as well as considering the effects of gender.

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients

BACKGROUND

Given low base rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in national samples of adolescents, clarifying the sociodemographic and clinical correlates among psychiatric inpatients may afford insights into potential risk factors that predict STBs onset.

METHOD

Adolescents (N = 970; ages 12-19 years) admitted for acute, psychiatric inpatient care completed baseline clinical interviews and self-report measures assessing demographics and early life adversity. Lifetime and 12-month STBs prevalence were obtained, allowing for the estimate of STBs persistence (i.e., rates of those with both current and past STBs) and transition rates (i.e., proportion of ideators that transition to plans or attempts). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression tested sociodemographic and clinical correlates of STBs.

RESULTS

Age-of-onset for STBs occurred in early adolescence. Most patients reported suicide ideation with nearly half of patients making a plan and one-third a suicide attempt. Although relatively modest, the strongest correlates of lifetime attempts were depressive disorders, physical abuse, and non-suicidal self-injury. Knowing a peer that had attempted suicide also increased the likelihood of a suicide attempt, especially among attempters who transitioned from ideation to planned attempts.

CONCLUSION

STBs are highly prevalent among adolescents admitted for acute psychiatric inpatient treatment. The modest effects suggest that correlates, particularly those related to suicide attempts, are widely distributed. As a history of physical abuse and knowing a peer with a suicide attempt history are related to transitioning from ideation to action, these may be critical factors to target in the deployment of future suicide prevention and treatment programs. HIGHLIGHTSOne-third of adolescent inpatients report a lifetime history of suicide attempts.Approximately 65% of adolescent inpatients with a lifetime plan attempt suicide.Knowing peers who attempt suicide may facilitate the transition from ideation to action.

Pilot Study: Cut the Cut-A Treatment Program for Adolescent Inpatients with Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

Non-suicidal-self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents needing inpatient treatment is a serious health risk behaviour. NSSI-specific treatment programs for inpatients hardly exist. "Cut the Cut" (CTC) is a new treatment program in intervals, addressing this problem. Aim of this pilot-study was to evaluate acceptability and feasibility of CTC. 23 female inpatients (12 CTC, 11 control, aged 15-17; mean = 16.80, SD.70) engaging in NSSI were evaluated for service user satisfaction, frequency, and severity of NSSI at T1 (admission), T2 (discharge after interval 1, CTC-group) and T3 (discharge). A qualitative interview was performed at T3. Significant improvement in NSSI-frequency was given (T1-T3: CTC p = 0.010; control p = 0.038). Severity of NSSI reduced slightly (mild NSSI: CTC p = 0.022, control p = 0.087; severe NSSI: CTC p = 0.111, control p = 0.066). Satisfaction of parents (T3 mean 28.38) and adolescents (T3 mean 26.11) in CTC was rated high. CTC is a feasible treatment option for inpatients engaging in NSSI. Further studies over time are needed.Trial registration Number DRKS00016762, 05.03.2019, retrospectively registered.

Tumor markers and depression scores are predictive of non-suicidal self-injury behaviors among adolescents with depressive disorder: A retrospective study

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an important risk factor for suicide in adolescents with depressive disorders; therefore, it is important to predict NSSI occurrence as early as possible. Disturbances in biological rhythms are characteristic manifestations of depressive disorders and can lead to immune dysfunction, leading to changes in tumor markers. This study aimed to produce an index that utilizes tumor markers to predict NSSI behaviors among adolescents with depressive disorders.

Methods

A total of 120 hospitalized adolescent patients with depressive disorders aged 14–24 years were included in this study. Participants were divided into NSSI and non-NSSI groups based on self-reports using the Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory. Demographics, tumor marker concentrations, other peripheral blood indices, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores, and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) scores were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to develop a joint index, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was created to predict NSSI behaviors among adolescents with depressive disorders.

Results

Compared with the non-NSSI group, the NSSI group had significantly higher insight, retardation, insomnia, hopelessness, psychiatric anxiety, total HDRS and HAMA scores, and significantly higher levels of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125), cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). In addition, a joint index was developed by combining CA-125, CA19-9, CEA, HDRS total score, HAMA total score and age using multiple logistic regression to predict NSSI behaviors. The area under the curve was 0.831, with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.734 and 0.891, respectively.

Conclusion

A combination of depression score, tumor marker levels, and age can identify NSSI behaviors among adolescents with depressive disorders.

Does Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Predict Later Suicidal Attempts? A Review of Studies

Co-occurrence of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts (SA) might occur because they share common risk factors, or alternatively because one leads to the other. Using search terms salient to NSSI and SA, we screened 555 studies to identify 17 that presented temporal data about NSSI and SA. Much of the evidence indicates that NSSI predates SA, especially among females and individuals with depressive symptoms, or diagnosed with borderline personality disorder or mood disorders. However, in some studies, associated risk factors likely accounted for the effect. Greater NSSI frequency to a threshold increases risk for later SA. Findings suggest that the behaviors have common predisposing factors, but that there is also a potent gateway effect whereby NSSI precedes SA.

Communicating distress: suicide threats/gestures among clinical and community youth

Although self-injurious thoughts and behaviors are a global health concern, little is known about suicidal threat/gesture(s) where a person leads others to believe they want to end their lives when they have no intention to do so. This study assessed the lifetime prevalence of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors among both community adolescents (n = 1117) and in clinical youth (n = 191). Suicide threats/gestures were common among youth; 12.2% of community adolescents and 18.0% of clinical youth reporting having made a suicide threat/gesture, most commonly in the context of other self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. Across both samples, suicide threats/gestures were not uniquely associated with suicide attempts, and youth who reported suicide threats/gestures in the context of a history of self-harm or suicide plan(s) were no more likely to report a history of suicide attempt(s). Suicide threats/gestures were distinguished from suicide attempts in that they primarily fulfilled positive social functions, rather than autonomic functions. Findings suggest that suicidal threats/gestures are common in both community and clinical youth, and are not uniquely associated with suicide attempts, but rather function to communicate distress to others.

Self-Injuries and Their Functions with Respect to Suicide Risk in Adolescents with Conduct Disorder: Findings from a Path Analysis

Non-suicidal self-injuries (NSSIs) have been identified as one of the most predictive factors of suicidal behaviours in adolescents. However, it remains unknown whether certain functions of NSSIs are associated with suicide risk, and what are the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between functions of NSSIs and suicide risk in adolescents with conduct disorder (CD), which shares some common characteristics with NSSIs. Participants were 215 adolescents (155 females, 72.1%) with CD. Functions of NSSIs, depressive symptoms, the levels of impulsivity, anxiety, self-esteem and aggression were examined. There were 77 adolescents with lifetime history of NSSIs (35.8%). Among them, adolescents with lifetime history of suicide attempt were significantly more likely to report anti-dissociation and anti-suicide function of NSSIs. They had significantly higher levels of anxiety as well as significantly lower self-esteem. Higher lifetime number of NSSIs was associated with higher odds of reporting anti-dissociation and anti-suicide functions. Moreover, these two functions fully mediated the association between lifetime number of NSSIs and suicide risk after co-varying for depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as self-esteem. The present findings indicate that anti-suicide and anti-dissociation functions of NSSIs might be crucial predictors of suicide risk in adolescents with CD.

Help-seeking duration in adolescents with suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-injury

Prompt access to appropriate professional care for adolescents with self-harm thoughts and respective behaviors (suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-injury [NSSI]) is crucial as both are associated with an increased risk of suicide in later life. The present study aimed to describe the duration from initial onset of thoughts and incidents of self-harm until first clinical presentation in children and adolescents and to identify factors affecting help-seeking duration. Onset of self-harm thoughts and behaviors, time of first clinical presentation, and psychiatric and demographic variables were obtained from n = 672 adolescents (11-19 years) from the Germany-based AtR!Sk (Ambulanz für Risikoverhalten & Selbstschädigung) cohort-study at an outpatient clinic for risk-taking and self-harm behaviors. In 22% of overall cases, the first self-harm thoughts and behaviors occurred after contact to professional care was already established. Focusing on actual help-seeking delay only, it took between M = 0.99 years (after first suicide attempt) and M = 1.98 years (after first thoughts of NSSI) until participants sought professional help. Overall, help-seeking duration and help-seeking delay were longer for participants with more severe psychopathology (i.e., BPD, depressive symptoms, general symptom severity). The findings revealed a substantial delay of receiving appropriate professional care in adolescents with self-harm thoughts and behavior. The correlation between treatment latency and higher psychopathology may emphasize the need of prompt treatment. A better understanding of barriers and facilitators to professional help will contribute to enhance measures of tailored support for young patients in their help-seeking process.

Resting state prefrontal cortex oxygenation in adolescent non-suicidal self-injury - A near-infrared spectroscopy study

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Resting prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation is decreased in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) compared to healthy controls.

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Lower PFC oxygenation (full sample) is associated with greater adverse childhood experiences and less health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

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On the group-level, patients show no alterations of resting state functional connectivity within the PFC.

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Among other clinical variables, increased PFC connectivity (full sample) is associated with greater borderline personality pathology.

Introduction

Neural alterations in limbic and prefrontal circuits in association with self-injurious behavior have been studied primarily in adult borderline personality disorder (BPD). In adolescent patients, research is still sparse. Here, we used resting functional near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to examine oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and its association with symptom severity in adolescents engaging in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and matched healthy controls (HC).

Methods

Adolescents (12–17 years) with recurrent episodes of NSSI (n = 170) and healthy controls (n = 43) performed a low-demanding resting-state vanilla baseline task. Mean oxygenation of the PFC and functional connectivity within the PFC, were measured using an 8-channel functional NIRS system (Octamon, Artinis, The Netherlands). Various clinical variables derived from diagnostic interviews and self-reports were included in statistical analyses to explore potential associations with PFC oxygenation and connectivity.

Results

Adolescents with NSSI showed significantly decreased PFC oxygenation compared to HC, as indexed by oxygenated hemoglobin. Lower PFC oxygenation was associated with greater adverse childhood experiences and less health-related quality of life (HRQoL). While there was no evidence for alterations in PFC connectivity in adolescents engaging in NSSI compared to HC, increased PFC connectivity in the full sample was associated with greater adverse childhood experience, greater BPD pathology, greater depression severity and psychological burden in general, as well as lower HRQoL.

Conclusion

This study is the first to examine PFC oxygenation using NIRS technology in adolescents engaging in NSSI. Overall, results indicate small effects not specific to NSSI. Clinical implications of these findings and recommendations for further research are discussed.

Assessment of the association between non-suicidal self-injury disorder and suicidal behaviour disorder in females with conduct disorder

BACKGROUND

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and aggression have been demonstrated to serve as risk factors of suicidal behaviours (SB). Non-suicidal self-injury disorder (NSSID) and Suicidal Behaviour Disorder (SBD) are among new diagnostic categories for further studies in the DSM-5 classification.

METHODS

We recruited 196 girls (aged 15.5 ± 1.2 years) diagnosed with conduct disorder (CD). All of them were assessed with respect of non-suicidal self-injury acts, suicidal attempts, psychopathology, self-esteem and general functioning.

RESULTS

Age of NSSI onset was significantly lower compared to age of first suicidal attempt. SBD was present in 50.0% of patients with NSSID and the prevalence of NSSID in individuals with SBD was estimated at 52.2%. A diagnosis of NSSID, with at least 8 days of engagement in self-injuries during the preceding year, significantly predicted the risk of SBD. This effect appeared to be independent of depressive symptomatology.

LIMITATIONS

Our results cannot be generalized over the whole population of individuals diagnosed with CD because of a lack of male patients, as well as individuals with the most severe and mildest forms of CD. Causal inferences cannot be established due to a cross-sectional study design.

CONCLUSIONS

The NSSID with at least 8 days of engagement in self-injuries during the preceding year serves as a predictor of SBD independently of the effects of depressive symptoms. Longitudinal studies are required to confirm our findings.

Self-harm in the context of borderline personality disorder

The present article gives a selective overview of recent studies on the role of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behavior in the context of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Previous research found self-harming behavior, particularly NSSI, to constitute an easily accessible marker in the early detection of individuals at risk of development of BPD. The review further summarizes studies that investigated inter-relations between BPD features and self-harming behavior over time. Mainly, affective instability has been shown to play a role in the maintenance of NSSI and the increased risk of suicidal behavior among individuals with BPD. Finally, results about the effectiveness of treatment programs on the reduction of self-harming behavior among individuals with BPD are presented.

Factors Associated With Non-suicidal Self-Injury in Chinese Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents is an increasing public health problem in China. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies on NSSI in Chinese adolescents (between 10 and 19 years) to examine factors associated with NSSI. Twenty-five papers including 30 separate studies with 186,447 participants were included for analysis. The results from a random-effects model showed a weak, but significant overall prediction of NSSI (OR = 1.734). There were significant associations between the following seven factors and NSSI (ranking by the effect sizes, in descending order): adverse life events (OR = 2.284), negative coping style (OR = 2.040), problematic internet use (OR = 2.023), sleep disturbance (OR = 1.734), traumatic experiences (OR = 1.728), problematic parent-child relationship (OR = 1.585), mental health problems (OR = 1.578). Additionally, NSSI sample type moderated these effects. These findings highlight factors significantly associated with NSSI in Chinese adolescents. Parent-child relationship and mental health of the only children and left-behind children in China deserve more attention. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42019123508.

DSM-5 Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Criteria in a Clinical Sample of Self-Harming Mexican Adolescents

INTRODUCTION

The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) needs to be validated in non-European populations. The aims of this study were to determine how common NSSI was in a sample of self-harming Mexican adolescents and examine the associated variables.

METHODS

We examined the medical records of 585 adolescents with a history of self-injurious behaviour who attended a public hospital in Mexico City from 2005 to 2012. A group of experts established the diagnosis according to the DSM-5. The clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with and without NSSI were compared.

RESULTS

NSSI was diagnosed in 351 patients (60%) with evidence of self-harm. The main reasons for not being diagnosed were a previous suicide attempt (criterion A, 158 subjects [26.87%]) and another diagnosis that better explained the self-injurious behaviour (criterion F, 60 subjects [10.25%]). The NSSI group had a higher proportion of males (26.5% vs 16.2%) and patients with behavioural disorders (28.5% vs 13.7%). These patients were also found to seek psychiatric support in relation to their self-harm more frequently (31.9% vs 14.1%). The associated clinical characteristics included behavioural disorder (OR=2.51; 95% CI, 1.62-3.90), personality disorders (OR=0.56; 95% CI, 0.33-0.97), hospital admission (OR=0.23; 95% CI, 0.16-0.33), depressive symptoms (OR=0.60; 95% CI, 0.42-0.85), anxiety symptoms (OR=2.08; 95% CI, 1.31-3.31) and self-harming to influence others (OR=2.19; 95% CI, 1.54-3.11).

CONCLUSIONS

More than half of the adolescents in the clinical sample with self-injury met DSM-5 criteria for NSSI. There are clinical and demographic characteristics which may be associated with this diagnosis.

Anti-Suicide Function of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Female Inpatient Adolescents

BACKGROUND

There have been numerous studies investigating the relationship between nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidality. On the one side, NSSI is an important risk factor for suicidality, including suicidal thoughts and behaviors. On the other side, it has been suggested that one function of NSSI might be as a coping mechanism that can help individuals in the short term avoid suicide. The present study investigated the relationship between suicidality and NSSI in female inpatient adolescents, focusing on NSSI as an anti-suicide strategy.

METHODS

Subjects were 56 female adolescents, aged 12-18 years (M = 15.95 years, SD = 1.27), recruited from different inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric units. All participants fulfilled the DSM-5 research criteria for nonsuicidal self-injury disorder (NSSI-D). To assess suicidality, NSSI-D, and current and past diagnoses, a structured clinical interview was conducted.

RESULTS

NSSI as a short-term coping strategy for avoiding suicide was indicated by one third (32.1%) of the participants. Before participants engaged in NSSI, the anti-suicide function was reported more frequently than reducing interpersonal problems (d = -.59). Getting relief from negative emotions and inducing positive feelings were reported at the same frequency as avoiding suicide before NSSI. Participants engaging in NSSI to avoid suicide and those reporting other functions did not significantly differ regarding other NSSI characteristics, suicidality, or psychopathology. Results indicate that the anti-suicide function significantly predicts the duration of current suicidal ideation (β = .557).

CONCLUSION

This study provides preliminary support for the idea that NSSI is frequently used by female adolescents with NSSI-D to avoid suicide. Given the high co-occurrence of NSSI and suicidality, our results underline the importance of clinical assessment of suicidality and several NSSI functions, including the anti-suicide function, in adolescents with NSSI.

Adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury and cortisol response to the retrieval of adversity: A sibling study

BACKGROUND

There is evidence for alterations in hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to the retrieval of traumatic events among individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. However, no study has so far investigated HPA response to trauma retrieval among individuals engaging in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). In the present study, we compared reports of childhood adversity (CA) between adolescents engaging in NSSI and their siblings and tested for differences in the cortisol response to the retrieval of CA.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 32 adolescents engaging in NSSI (M_age = 15.8 years) and their siblings (M_age = 15.6 years). Standardized interviews were used for the assessment of CA, NSSI, and axis I diagnoses. Salivary cortisol was measured before and after the trauma interview. Basal HPA axis activity was measured in hair.

RESULTS

Reports of CA were moderately interrelated between siblings. Adolescents engaging in NSSI reported more severe CA. A significant decrease of salivary cortisol during the trauma interview was found only in the NSSI group. The NSSI group had significantly higher hair cortisol levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate relations in siblings' reports of CA point to non-shared experiences that may play a role in the development of NSSI. In the NSSI group, the decrease of salivary cortisol during the interview may be explained by a downregulation of the HPA axis subsequent to the retrieval of former experience of CA.

[Suicidal tendencies in adolescence : Dysfunctional familiar communication as risk factor]

BACKGROUND

Suicide is one of the four most common causes of death in adolescence worldwide. Although it is well known that suicidal people often have insufficient communication strategies, the importance of family communication for adolescent suicidality has not yet been sufficiently explored.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to provide a systematic review of family communication as a risk factor for adolescent suicidal tendencies and to develop treatment recommendations.

METHODS

In this study a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL and PsychINFO. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated and a summary prepared.

RESULT

A total of 195 studies were extracted and screened for their suitability. Of these studies, 7 which examined a total of 13,107 adolescents aged 11-22 years were included in this review and critically evaluated. Of the studies evaluated six found a correlative relationship between dysfunctional parent-child communication and adolescent suicidality. Communication with the mother appears to be more essential.

CONCLUSION

The results of this literature search indicate that functional communication with parents seems to be protective for suicidal adolescents. From this, recommendations can be derived for preventive measures in families with adolescents who are otherwise at increased risk of suicide. Longitudinal study designs are needed to conclusively answer the research question.

Are Tattoos an Indicator of Severity of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Behavior in Adolescents?

OBJECTIVE

To compare adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury behavior and tattoos [NSSI (T+)] with another group with non-suicidal self-injury behavior without tattoos [NSSI (T-)].

METHODS

Adolescents (n=438) 42.6% males from the community (M=12.3, SD=1.3), completed the Self-Injury Schedule.

RESULTS

The lifetime prevalence of tattoos performed with the purpose to feel pain was 1.8%. Compared to the NSSI (T-) group, the NSSI (T+) group was significantly more likely to meet the DSM-5 frequency criteria of 5 self-injury events in 1 year, practice more than one method of self-injury, and topography, more suicidal intentionality, more negative thoughts and affective emotions before, during, and after self-injury and more academic and social dysfunction.

CONCLUSION

Adolescents from the community who practice tattooing to feel pain, show a distinct phenotype of NSSI. Health professionals and pediatricians should assess tattooing characteristics such as intention (to feel pain), frequency, and presence of non-suicidal self-injury behavior and suicide intentionality.

Adolescent self-harm with and without suicidality: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of a Swedish regional register

BACKGROUND

Self-harm is common and there is a need for studies that investigate the relevance of this behavior in clinical samples to inform risk assessment and treatment. The objectives in the current studies were to compare clinical and psychosocial correlates and subsequent adverse outcomes in youth who present to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) with self-harm only (SH), self-harm with suicidality (SH+SU), with those without any indication of SH or SH+SU.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study and a longitudinal cohort study using data from a regional clinical care register, and Swedish national registers. The case-control study included all patients (5-17 years) between 2011 and 2015 (N = 25,161). SH and SH+SU cases were compared with controls (patients without SH) regarding a range of correlates. The longitudinal study included former CAMHS patients (N = 6,120) who were followed for a median time of 2.8 years after termination of CAMHS contact regarding outcomes such as clinical care consumption, social welfare recipiency, and crime conviction.

RESULTS

In the case-control study, both the SH and SH+SU groups received more clinical care, had lower global functioning, and higher odds of having mental disorders compared to controls. In most comparisons, the SH+SU group had more problems than the SH group. In the longitudinal study, the same pattern emerged for most outcomes; for example, the adjusted hazard ratio for recurrent care due to self-harm was 23.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.0-31.4) in the SH+SU group compared to 3.9 (95% CI, 2.3-6.7) in the SH group.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescent patients presenting with self-harm have higher risks for adverse outcomes than patients without self-harm. Suicidality in addition to self-harm is associated with more severe outcomes, importantly recurrent episodes of care for self-harm.

Parent and peer relationships as longitudinal predictors of adolescent non-suicidal self-injury onset

BACKGROUND

Adolescence is characterized by developmental changes in social relationships, which may contribute to, or protect against, psychopathology and risky behaviors. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is one type of risky behavior that typically begins during adolescence and is associated with problems in relationships with family members and peers. Prior research on social factors in adolescent NSSI has been limited, however, by a narrow focus on specific interpersonal domains, cross-sectional methods, retrospective self-report of childhood experiences, and a failure to predict NSSI onset among as-yet-unaffected youth.

METHODS

We investigated these relationships in 2127 urban-living adolescent girls with no NSSI history at age 13, who were participating in a longitudinal cohort study (Pittsburgh Girls Study). We used discrete-time survival analyses to examine the contribution of time-varying interpersonal risk factors, assessed yearly at ages 13-16, to NSSI onset assessed in the following year (ages 14-17), controlling for relevant covariates, such as depression and race. We considered both behavioral indicators (parental discipline, positive parenting, parental monitoring, peer victimization), and cognitive/affective indicators (quality of attachment to parent, perceptions of peers, and perceptions of one's own social competence and worth in relation to peers) of interpersonal difficulties.

RESULTS

Parental harsh punishment, low parental monitoring, and poor quality of attachment to parent predicted increased odds of subsequent adolescent NSSI onset, whereas positive parenting behaviors reduced the odds of next year NSSI onset. Youth who reported more frequent peer victimization, poorer social self-worth and self-competence, and more negative perceptions of peers were also at increased risk of NSSI onset in the following year. When tested simultaneously, no single parenting variable showed a unique association with later NSSI onset; in contrast, peer victimization and poor social self-worth each predicted increased odds of later NSSI onset in an omnibus model of peer and parent relationship characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

In this urban sample of adolescent girls, both peer and parent factors predicted new onset NSSI, although only peer factors were associated with subsequent NSSI in combined multivariate models. Results further suggest that both behavioral and cognitive/affective indicators of interpersonal problems predict NSSI onset. These findings highlight the relevance of family and peer relationships to NSSI onset, with implications for prevention of NSSI onset among at-risk youth.

The Quest for Meaning Around Self-Injurious and Suicidal Acts: A Qualitative Study Among Adolescent Girls

Introduction: Suicide and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are major problems in adolescent psychiatry and share numerous clinical characteristics. The principal objective of this study is to describe the subjective experience of adolescent girls and young women who present NSSI and/or suicidal behaviors and to determine the common aspects and the specificities of each experience. Method: This exploratory study is based on a procedure that is qualitative, phenomenological, and inductive. The data were collected from two semi-structured interviews each of 18 girls and young women aged 12-21 years, who were receiving care from a psychiatrist specializing in adolescents and who at least once had harmed themselves by NSSI or attempted suicide, or both. The thematic data analysis was performed by applying the methods of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: The results are described around four superordinate themes: relationships with the self, with others/otherness, with the body, and with death; they are then subdivided into 13 themes. Several themes appeared common to both types of behavior, especially the relational dimension of self-harming acts. The process of separation-individuation seems complex for these youth. Conclusion: The results underline the relational aspects of the self-harming behavior (NSSI or suicidal) among adolescent girls. These aspects also appear to be expressed in the family sphere, the social sphere, in contact with peers, and also at a societal level when the community no longer addresses adolescents' difficulties. When the process of subjectification does not appear to reach completion, self-aggressive behavior is seen as an ultimate attempt to regain a feeling of autonomy.

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents

BACKGROUND

25-35% of adolescents in random samples drawn from German schools have been found to have manifested at least one episode of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). The prevalence in samples from child and adolescent psychiatric clinics is approximately 50%. NSSI can arise as a symptom in the setting of various types of mental illness.

METHODS

This review is based on a selective literature search carried out in the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases, with special consideration of regional study samples.

RESULTS

NSSI is usually resorted to as a dysfunctional coping strategy for emotional regulation. The main risk factors for NSSI include bullying, accompanying mental illnesses, and a history of abuse and neglect in childhood. Neurobiological studies have shown abnormal stress processing in persons with NSSI and an elevated pain threshold in persons with repetitive NSSI. Psychotherapeutic interventions of various kinds lessen the frequency of NSSI; to date, no particular type of psychotherapy has been found to be clearly superior to the others. Randomized controlled trials have revealed small to moderate effects from dialectic-behavioral therapy and mentalization-based therapy in adolescent patients. No psychoactive drug has yet been found to possess specific efficacy against NSSI in adolescents.

CONCLUSION

The first ever German-language clinical guidelines for the treatment of NSSI have now been issued. Psychotherapy is the treatment of first choice. More research is needed so that subgroups with different disease courses can be more clearly defined.

An Examination of Correlates for Adolescent Engagement in Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, Suicidal Self-Injury, and Substance Use

Little research has examined potential risk factors for direct versus indirect self-injury among adolescents. To address this limitation, 541 clinically referred adolescents were assessed using the interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health Assessment. Logistic regression analyses revealed that older females who experienced heightened depressive symptoms and neighborhood violence were at increased risk for direct self-injury, specifically nonsuicidal and suicidal self-injury. Additionally, adolescents who experienced higher levels of caregiver distress were at greater risk of suicidal self-injury. In contrast, older adolescents who experienced heightened aggressive behavior were at increased risk for one form of indirect self-injury, substance use. Findings suggest that nonsuicidal self-injury, suicidal self-injury, and substance use are associated with differential risk factors. Implications for targeted prevention strategies are discussed.

Mediators between adverse childhood experiences and suicidality

We investigated whether psychiatric symptomatology, impulsivity, family and social dysfunction, and alcohol use mediate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and suicidality. The study population comprised 206 adolescent psychiatric inpatients and 203 age- and gender-matched adolescents from the community. ACEs and suicidality were assessed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children - Present and Lifetime version, the Life Events Checklist, and a structured background data collection sheet. Psychiatric symptomatology was measured using the Symptom Checklist -90. Impulsivity, social dysfunction, and family dysfunction were measured using the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire, and alcohol use was assessed with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. A simple mediation test and multiple mediation analyses were conducted. A positive direct effect of ACEs on suicidality was observed. Also seen was a positive indirect effect of ACEs on suicidality through psychiatric symptomatology, impulsivity, and family and social dysfunctions. Alcohol misuse did not, however, mediate the relationship between ACEs and suicidality. According to the multiple mediation analyses, psychiatric symptomatology was the most significant mediator, followed by impulsivity. Psychiatric symptoms, impulsivity, and family and social dysfunctions are factors that should be taken into consideration when assessing suicidality in adolescents.

A meta-analysis of the prevalence of different functions of non-suicidal self-injury

BACKGROUND

A broad variety of different functions can underlie acts of Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Whilst research so far has identified many of the commonly reported functions, no reliable estimates of prevalence currently exist for these different NSSI functions. Understanding the prevalence of NSSI functions represents a key to better understanding the phenomenology of NSSI and addressing the differing needs of the NSSI population. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of NSSI functions in community and clinical samples.

METHOD

A literature search of electronic databases PsycINFO, Medline, and Web of Science from date of inception to March 2017 was undertaken. A pre-specified framework for categorising different functions of NSSI was used to collate data from across studies. A random-effects meta-analysis of prevalence was then undertaken on these data.

RESULTS

Intrapersonal functions (66-81%), and especially those concerning emotion regulation were most commonly reported by individuals who engage in NSSI (63-78%). Interpersonal functions (e.g., expressing distress) were less common (33-56%).

LIMITATIONS

The review was limited to English-language articles. Reviewed articles were inconsistent in their measurement of NSSI. Inconsistency within pooled prevalence estimates was high when moderators were not accounted for.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings indicate that intrapersonal functions of NSSI are most common and are present for the majority of participants. This finding supports dominant emotion-regulation models of NSSI, and the use of interventions that work to improve emotion-regulation ability. However, interpersonal functions remain endorsed by a substantial portion of participants.

Psychological and behavioral characteristics of suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injury in Chinese adolescents

BACKGROUND

Suicide attempts (SA) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are prevalent in adolescents and important risk factors of suicide death. Both SA and NSSI are associated with multiple psychosocial, behavioral, biological and genetic factors. This study examined similarities and differences in psychological vulnerability and internalizing and externalizing problems between adolescents with SA and NSSI.

METHODS

Participants consisted of 11,831 students and had a mean age of 14.97 (SD = 1.46) years. Students completed a structured questionnaire to report their demographic information, psychological characteristics, internalizing and externalizing problems, SA and NSSI. Based on the history of NSSI and SA in the last year, the sample was divided into four groups: non-self-harm (NSH), NSSI only, SA only, and NSSI+SA. Multivariate analyses of covariance and post-hoc pairwise comparisons were performed for multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

Compared with NSH group, adolescents with either NSSI or SA scored significantly higher on trait anger, impulsiveness, hopelessness, internalizing and externalizing problems. NSSI+SA group and SA only group scored significantly higher than NSSI only group but both did not score significantly different on most psychological and behavioral variables.

LIMITATIONS

Limitations include reliance on self-reported measures and cross-sectional survey.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological and behavioral profiles between adolescents with SA and NSSI are similar but are more severe in suicide attempters. The findings highlight the necessity of assessing psychological and behavioral problems for prevention and early intervention of adolescent self-harm.

Profiles of Emotion Deficits and Adolescent Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in an Inpatient Sample

This study examined profiles of specific emotion deficits, including poor emotion awareness, reluctance to express emotion, sadness inhibition and dysregulation, and anger inhibition and dysregulation. Self-report questionnaires assessed adolescents' emotion skills and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) engagement, frequency, severity, methods, and age of onset. Latent profile analysis yielded a three-profile solution: Low Deficit (LD; n = 49), Unaware/Anger Dysregulated (UAD; n = 24), and Anger Inhibited (AI; n = 20) profiles. Adolescents in the UAD profile were more likely to engage in NSSI, displayed a higher NSSI frequency, and reported a higher number of NSSI methods when compared to adolescents in the LD profile. No links emerged for NSSI severity or age of onset.

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents: Characterization of the Disorder and the Issue of Distress and Impairment

Nonsuicidal self-injury disorder (NSSID) is a condition in need of further study to assess the validity of the potential diagnosis and its suggested criteria. This study examined the NSSID diagnosis and investigated the distress/impairment criterion by comparing community adolescents who met all criteria for NSSID (n = 186) to adolescents with five or more nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) episodes (n = 314), and to a group of adolescents who met all criteria but negated that their NSSI caused them any distress or impairment, thus failing to meet criterion E (n = 29). The NSSID group delimited from the ≥ 5 NSSI group by reporting significantly more frequent and severe self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, as well as having more experiences of negative life events and higher levels of trauma symptoms. There were also some differences between the NSSID group and adolescents without distress/impairment, which together contribute valuable information on the potential NSSID diagnosis, as well as the discussion of criterion E.