Psychiatric and self-injury profiles of adolescent suicide attempters versus adolescents engaged in nonsuicidal self-injury

Non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal ideation among adolescents: the chain-mediating role of rumination and decentering

Objective

To explore the relationship between non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal ideation in adolescents and examine the roles of rumination and decentering in that relationship.

Method

By means of a questionnaire, 175 adolescent patients in a psychiatric hospital in Fujian Province were given the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation: Chinese Version, Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation, Ruminative Response Scale: Chinese Version, and Experiences Questionnaire: Decentering Scale.

Results

(1) Adolescent non-suicidal self-injury was significantly positively related to suicidal ideation and rumination and significantly negatively related to decentering. Suicidal ideation was significantly positively related to rumination and significantly negatively related to decentering. Rumination was significantly negatively related to decentering. (2) Rumination and decentering played a complete chain-mediating role between non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal ideation. Non-suicidal self-injury was found to indirectly affect suicidal ideation along three pathways: the independent mediating role of rumination (the mediating effect accounted for 40.166%), independent mediating role of decentering (the mediating effect accounted for 41.274%), and chain-mediating role of rumination and decentering (the mediating effect accounted for 14.958%).

Conclusion

Adolescent non-suicidal self-injury can indirectly affect suicidal ideation through rumination and decentering. In the future, mindfulness and other methods should be used to improve individuals' levels of decentering and cultivate emotional regulation abilities, so as to reduce the incidence of non-suicidal self-injury and suicide in adolescents.

Maltreatment history and reasons for self-injurious behavior among adolescents engaged in non-suicidal self-injury versus adolescents who attempted suicide

OBJECTIVE

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a significant public health concern in the United States, especially among adolescents with histories of maltreatment. This study compared maltreatment characteristics and reasons for SIB between three homogenous samples of adolescents with either: (1) non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI); (2) suicide attempt/s (SA), and (3) typically developing controls (TDC).

METHOD

Participants (N = 124) aged 13-17 years completed questionnaires about their maltreatment and SIB histories.

RESULTS

Maltreatment rates were as follows: 90% NSSI group, 76% SA group, and 40% TDC group. Adolescents in the NSSI group reported significantly higher rates of emotional neglect compared to the SA group. Maltreated adolescents in the NSSI and SA groups reported the same top three SIB reasons: (1) get rid of bad feelings, (2) mental state at the time, and (3) problems with family. However, maltreated NSSI participants were significantly more likely to engage in SIB for emotion regulation reasons than maltreated SA participants, who were more likely to engage in SIB for interpersonal reasons. Physical neglect and physical abuse also arose as significant predictors of specific SIB reasons.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings help elucidate the maltreatment profiles and reasons for SIB among adolescents engaged in NSSI or SA. Specific maltreatment experiences may also influence the reasons why adolescents engaged in SIB.

A Longitudinal Study of Correlates, Discharge Disposition, and Rate of Re-presentation to Emergency Services of Adults who Engage in Non-suicidal Self-injury

OBJECTIVE

In DSM-5, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts (SA) are classified as distinct disorders in the section of conditions for further study. However, some have questioned the validity of distinguishing NSSI from SA. The objective of this study was to longitudinally examine the correlates, discharge disposition, and rate of re-presentation to emergency services of adults who engaged in NSSI and compare them to (a) adults who engage in SA and (b) adults with no self-harm or suicidal ideation (SI).

METHOD

Data came from 4,772 presentations to adult psychiatric services in the emergency departments of tertiary care hospitals in Winnipeg, Canada between January 2009 and June 2012. Chart reviews were conducted for all presentations with NSSI (n = 158), and a sample of those with SA (n = 172) and no SH or SI (n = 173).

RESULTS

Among the adults who returned to emergency services, those who originally presented with SA re-presented significantly sooner than those who presented with NSSI. (χ²(1) = 7.457, p = 0.006). Those who originally presented with NSSI that returned to hospital did not return with repeat NSSI, but instead the majority re-presented with suicidal thoughts and SA. Further, those who re-presented with NSSI and SA were less likely to be hospitalized or to receive a referral to mental health services, and more likely to be discharged to usual care at time of initial presentation.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, these findings indicate a trajectory of escalation of self-harm behavior for certain people who engage in NSSI, especially those who re-present to emergency services.HIGHLIGHTSA quarter of people with self-harm re-present to emergency services within four-and-a-half years.Those with suicide attempts re-presented significantly sooner than non-suicidal self-injury.There is a need for increased interventions in emergency services for those with self-harm.

Using the integrated motivational-volitional (IMV) model of suicidal behaviour to differentiate those with and without suicidal intent in hospital treated self-harm

Self-harm is a major public health concern. In order to respond to self-harm effectively, it is important to understand the factors associated with self-harm with and without suicidal intent. To this end, we investigated psychological factors selected from the Integrated Motivational-Volitional (IMV) model of suicidal behaviour in individuals who had recently been admitted to hospital for self-harm, with the aim of examining the characteristics of those who expressed intent to die versus those without suicidal intent. Individuals (n = 500, 60.6% female) admitted to two hospitals in central Scotland following self-harm with (suicide attempt [SA] group, n = 336) or without (non-suicidal self-harm [NSSH] group, n = 164) suicidal intent completed a range of psychological measures. Over half of the participants reported previous episodes of self-harm (SA, n = 239, 71.1%; NSSH, n = 91, 55.5%). Univariate analyses revealed that the SA and NSSH groups differed on some of the psychological measures with higher depressive symptoms, defeat, entrapment, acquired capability and impulsivity in the SA compared to the NSSH group. In the multivariate model, suicidal ideation, defeat, internal entrapment and perceived burdensomeness independently differentiated between the groups. These findings highlight the complex profiles of individuals presenting at hospital with self-harm and emphasise the need to investigate differences between subtypes of self-harm in order to support individuals optimally. Applying frameworks such as the IMV model to further understanding of self-harm might assist in the development of targeted psychological interventions to reduce risk of repeat self-harm or suicide.

Prevalence and risk factors for non-suicidal self-injury among patients with depression or bipolar disorder in China

BACKGROUNDS

Non-suicidal self-injury is a serious health problem among patients with depression or bipolar disorder. However, few studies within the Chinese context have investigated the prevalence of NSSI and its risk factors in above populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury and its risk factors in patients with depression or bipolar disorder in China.

METHODS

The final sample comprised of 394 inpatients(M_age = 29.71; SD_age = 11.95) with depression or bipolar disorder from two psychiatric hospitals in Beijing, China. A General Demographic Data Form, the Non-suicidal Self-injury Questionnaire(NSSI-Q), Impulsivity Item and the Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire(ACE-IQ) were completed by all patients.

RESULTS

Of the 394 patients examined, 245(62.2%) of this sample reported NSSI in past year. Of the 245 patients with NSSI, 135(55.1%) were diagnosed with depression and 110(44.9%) were diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The most common methods of NSSI for female was "pinching"(23.1%) and "scratching"(22.8%), while for male it was "hiting hard objects"(12.7%). By multivariate regression analysis, young age, unemployment, a higher monthly family income, single, impulsivity, long duration of illness and ACEs were risk factors for NSSI in patients with depression and bipolar disorder(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study points to the fact that there was an unfortunate message about the prevalence of NSSI among patients with depression or bipolar disorder in China. It is necessary not only to raise the awareness of NSSI in families and society, but also to formulate targeted assessment and intervention. Moreover, future research should not only focus on individuals being hospitalized, but should be representative of individuals treated at home or in the community because there are no national statistics on NSSI among such patients in China.

Suicidality: An Evolutionary Concept Analysis

Suicide is a preventable health problem. Multiple definitions and inconsistent use of the term suicidality can result in failure to properly recognize suicide risk and behavior and confuses suicide research. Clarification of the suicidality concept is needed to facilitate the care for individuals at risk for suicide. Using Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis method, this analysis describes the breadth and scope of the suicidality concept. Findings indicate suicidality covers a spectrum of suicidal risk and levels of emotional suffering and intent. The analysis does not draw definite conclusions, but outlines a direction for further research.

Prevalence and Risk-Markers of Self-Harm in Autistic Children and Adults

Self-harm is purportedly common in autistic individuals, but under-researched, particularly in younger samples and those without intellectual disability. This study aimed to describe prevalence, profile and correlates of self-harm in autistic individuals without impairments in adaptive functioning. Parents of autistic participants (n = 83) completed questionnaires regarding the presence/topography of self-harm, demographic characteristics, autism severity, age of diagnosis, affect, activity levels and repetitive behaviour. 24.10% of participants engaged in self-harm. Self‐harm was associated with significantly higher levels of impulsivity, over-activity, negative affect, compulsive behaviour and insistence on sameness. Low mood and overactivity/impulsivity predicted the presence of self-harm, with the model correctly classifying 82.9% of cases. Findings highlight a role for impaired behavioural inhibition and low mood in the aetiological mechanisms underpinning self-harm in autism.

Searching for a Sense of Place: The Process of How Adolescent Girls Overcome Suicidality

Adolescent suicide is a preventable health problem; however, warning signs are often missed. In this study we developed a grounded theory to explore the process of how adolescent girl suicide attempters escape suicide in a sample of 12 young female adults ages 18-25. Using grounded theory methods of constant comparison, memo-writing, axial, and theoretical coding, searching for a sense of place emerged as the core process encompassing social process stages of: (1) existing in a toxic environment; (2) seeing suicide as the only way out; (3) seeing new ways to escape. Implications for nursing practice, education, and research are discussed.

Do styles of emotion dysregulation differentiate adolescents engaging in non-suicidal self-injury from those attempting suicide?

Emotion dysregulation is implicated in both suicide attempts (SA) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, little is known about how emotion dysregulation may differ between adolescents who have made an SA from those engaged in NSSI. We sought to address this gap by comparing emotion dysregulation profiles across three homogenous groups of adolescents (1) SA-only (2) NSSI-only (3) and typically developing controls (TDCs). Mean comparisons suggest that adolescents with a history of NSSI reported significantly lower distress tolerance and higher emotional reactivity when compared to adolescents who made an SA. After controlling for shared variance across emotion dysregulation measures, parent report of affective lability was the only scale to uniquely distinguish between NSSI and SA groups. Accurately distinguishing emotion dysregulation patterns across self-injurious groups has practical implications towards assessment, treatment, course of illness, and prevention.

A Comparison of Self-Harm Presentations to Emergency Services

Background: In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, the distinction between nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts (SA) is highlighted in the section of conditions for further study. Aims: The objective of this study was to examine the correlates of people who presented to emergency departments (ED) with NSSI compared with those who presented with SA and no self-harm or suicidal ideation (no SH or SI). Method: Data came from 4,772 presentations to ED of tertiary care hospitals in Manitoba, Canada, between January 2009 and June 2012. Chart reviews were conducted for presentations with NSSI (n = 158), and a sample of SA (n = 172) and no SH or SI (n = 173). Results: NSSI was associated with borderline personality traits/disorders, previous history of SH, and aggression/impulsivity compared with no SH or SI. SA was associated with a lower likelihood of adjustment disorder (OR = 0.58; 95 % CI [0.34, 0.99]) and previous history of NSSI (OR = 0.30; 95 % CI [0.17, 0.53]) compared with NSSI. Limitations: A limitation of this study is its cross-sectional design. Conclusion: Given the distress associated with NSSI, the findings highlight the need for treatment plans that address all those who present to ED with SH regardless of intent.

Depressive symptoms and non-suicidal self-injury during adolescence: Latent patterns of short-term stability and change

INTRODUCTION

Depressive symptoms and non-suicidal self-injury not only increase in prevalence during adolescence, but they can also occur together. Both psychological problems seem to have similar precipitating conditions, suggesting they have transdiagnostic conditions-personal or contextual characteristics that contribute to co-occurrence. We sought to understand when these two problems co-occur and what is related to their co-occurrence.

METHODS

Using a pattern-centered approach and two waves of longitudinal data collected annually, we examined latent profiles of depressive symptoms and self-injury among a Swedish sample of adolescents aged 12 to 16 (M_ageT1 = 13.65 years, SD = 0.64), 53.7% boys and 47.3% girls. Most of the adolescents were Swedish (89%), with parents who were married or cohabitating (68%). We also examined the transitions between profiles over time.

RESULTS

Our results suggest that during this time frame, depressive symptoms and self-injury tend to emerge and stabilize or abate together. We also examined a broad array of predictors, including individual characteristics, emotion dysregulation, experiences with friends, parents' negative reactions to behavior, and school stress. The significant unique predictors suggest that adolescents who reported being subjected to relational aggression, having negative experiences while drinking, and low self-esteem had a greater probability of moving from moderate to high levels or maintaining high levels of depressive symptoms and self-injury, compared to adolescents classified in the other statuses.

CONCLUSIONS

Focusing on negative interpersonal experiences and selfesteem as transdiagnostic conditions may guide research and aid clinicians in supporting adolescents who feel depressed and engage in self-injury.

Non-suicidal self-injury in Mexican young adults: Prevalence, associations with suicidal behavior and psychiatric disorders, and DSM-5 proposed diagnostic criteria

BACKGROUND

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) may lead to scarring, infection, accidental death and psychological distress. Little is known about NSSI in the general population of young adults in developing countries like Mexico. The current study examined the prevalence of any NSSI and each type of NSSI, the prevalence of meeting DSM-5 proposed criteria, and finally the association of NSSI with socio-demographic variables, suicidal behavior and psychiatric disorders.

METHODS

This study was conducted in a community sample of 1071 young adults between 19 and 26 years of age residents of Mexico City.

RESULTS

The lifetime prevalence of NSSI was 18.56% with females having 87% greater odds. The 12-month prevalence was 3.19%. Only 0.22% of the total sample and 6.96% of those that self-injured in the past 12 months met full criteria proposed by DSM-5, in part due to the lack of reported impairment; 39.99% of those that self-injured reported impairment. Suicidal behavior commonly co-occurred with NSSI. All lifetime anxiety, mood, disruptive behavior and substance use disorders were associated with greater risk for lifetime NSSI whereas only 12-month depression and substance use disorder was associated with greater risk of 12-month NSSI.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional nature of the study precludes conclusions of causality and directionality and the study excluded institutionalized and homeless young adults.

CONCLUSIONS

NSSI is a concerning problem in young adults from Mexico City due to the important associations with all types of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behavior. Because many who self-injure do not perceive impairment, they are unlikely to seek treatment.

The Reciprocal Relationship between Suicidality and Stigma

INTRODUCTION

Although suicidality is frequently the cause of stigma, it is conversely true that stigma may be the cause of suicidality. The present paper focuses on the complex relationships that exist between suicidal behavior and stigmatizing attitudes.

METHODS

A narrative review of the topic will be presented on the basis of the relevant literature collected from an electronic search of PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Scopus databases, using stigma, public stigma, structural stigma, perceived stigma, self-stigma, suicide, attempted suicide, and suicidality as key words.

RESULTS

A negative perception is frequently held of suicidal people, labeling them as weak and unable to cope with their problems, or selfish. Individuals who have attempted suicide are subject to similar processes of stigmatization and "social distancing"; insurance policies include an exclusion clause against death by suicide. Subjects with a direct personal experience of depression or suicide strongly endorse a feeling of self-stigma; those who have attempted suicide are often ashamed and embarrassed by their behavior and tend to hide the occurrence as much as possible. Similar processes are observed among family members of subjects who have committed suicide or made a suicide attempt, with a higher perceived stigma present in those bereaved by suicide. Perceived or internalized stigma produced by mental or physical disorders, or through belonging to a minority group, may represent a significant risk factor for suicide, being severely distressing, reducing self-esteem and acting as a barrier in help-seeking behaviors.

CONCLUSION

With the aim of preventing suicide, greater efforts should be made to combat the persisting stigmatizing attitudes displayed toward mental disorders and suicide itself. Indeed, the role of stigma as a risk factor for suicide should further motivate and spur more concerted efforts to combat public stigma and support those suffering from perceived or internalized stigma. Experts and scientific societies should form an alliance with the media in an effort to promote a marked change in the societal perception of mental health issues and suicide. As stigma may result in severe consequences, specialist care and psychological interventions should be provided to populations submitted to stigma.

Untended wounds: Non-suicidal self-injury in adults with autism spectrum disorder

Recent studies have examined non-suicidal self-injury in community and clinical samples, but there is no published research on non-suicidal self-injury in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. This lack of research is surprising, since individuals with autism spectrum disorder have high rates of risk factors for non-suicidal self-injury, including depression and poor emotion regulation skills. Using an online survey, we examined non-suicidal self-injury methods, frequency, severity, functions, and initial motivations in adults with autism spectrum disorder ( n = 42). We also compared their non-suicidal self-injury characteristics to those of a gender-matched group of adults without autism spectrum disorder ( n = 42). Of the participants with autism spectrum disorder, 50% reported a history of non-suicidal self-injury. This proportion is higher than non-suicidal self-injury rates previously reported for college students, adult community samples, and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, which suggests that adults with autism spectrum disorder have increased risk for engaging in non-suicidal self-injury. Women with autism spectrum disorder were significantly more likely to endorse non-suicidal self-injury, relative to men with autism spectrum disorder. A history of non-suicidal self-injury was not related to current depression or emotion dysregulation for the participants with autism spectrum disorder. Non-suicidal self-injury characteristics among the adults with autism spectrum disorder were similar to non-suicidal self-injury in adults without autism spectrum disorder. These preliminary findings highlight the need for increased awareness and further research about non-suicidal self-injury within autism spectrum disorder.

Self-injurious implicit attitudes among adolescent suicide attempters versus those engaged in nonsuicidal self-injury

BACKGROUND

Suicide is among the most important mental health issues affecting adolescents today despite much research on its detection and prevention. Beyond suicide attempts (SAs), clinicians are increasingly confronted with another, potentially related problem: non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)-defined as the deliberate destruction of body tissue without intent to die. NSSI may increase risk for making an SA by sevenfold, but many studies examining this link have involved youths engaging in both NSSI and SAs. Thus, there is a need to compare homogeneous groups of adolescents engaged in NSSI-only or SA-only, but not both, to advance what is known about each form of self-harm. The self-injurious implicit association task (SI-IAT) is a particularly important computerized behavioral task to study such adolescents because the SI-IAT provides objective behavioral data about problems for which people may lack insight or be motivated to conceal, such as SAs and NSSI.

METHODS

We evaluated implicit associations with cutting and death/suicide using the computerized SI-IAT in three mutually exclusive groups: (1) adolescents who made an SA but had never engaged in NSSI (n = 47); (2) adolescents who engaged in NSSI but had never made an SA (n = 46); and (3) typically developing control (TDC) adolescents without history of psychiatric problems (n = 43).

RESULTS

Nonsuicidal self-injury participants had stronger identification with cutting versus no cutting than either SA or TDC participants. Contrary to our hypothesis, NSSI participants had stronger identification with suicide/death versus life than either SA or TDC participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Strong implicit attitudes towards suicide/death among adolescents with NSSI without a prior SA suggest that clinicians should not dismiss NSSI as not serious. Further work is required to elucidate the mechanism by which youths engaged in NSSI acquire these stronger identifications and make a first-time SA to develop novel treatment and prevention strategies blocking this transformation, ultimately reducing youth suicide.

Behavioral and emotional responses to interpersonal stress: A comparison of adolescents engaged in non-suicidal self-injury to adolescent suicide attempters

Prominent theoretical models and existing data implicate interpersonal factors in the development and maintenance of suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, no known study has yet used computerized behavioral tasks to objectively assess responses to interpersonal conflict/collaboration among teens engaged in NSSI or having made a suicide attempt. The current study, therefore, compared interpersonal functioning indexed by the Prisoner's Dilemma (PD) task among three mutually exclusive groups, adolescents (ages 13-17): engaged in NSSI only without history of a suicide attempt (n=26); who made a suicide attempt without history of NSSI (n=26); and typically developing controls (n=26). Participants also completed the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure to assess their general sensitivity to/awareness of others' behaviors and feelings. No significant between-group differences were found in PD task performance; however, compared to typically developing control participants and those who had made a suicide attempt, the NSSI group reported significantly more stress during the task. Additionally, NSSI participants rated themselves as more interpersonally sensitive compared to both attempters and typically developing controls. Given the lack of knowledge about whether these groups either differentially activate the same circuitry during stressful interpersonal interactions or instead rely on alternative, compensatory circuits, future work using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging is warranted.

An exploratory study of nonsuicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviors in adolescent Latinas

To date, there is little research to validate empirically differences between nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI) and attempted suicide among Latina adolescents. Understanding the characteristics and contextual features of self-harmful behaviors among Latina teens is a critical public health and social justice matter given the disproportionate rates of attempted suicide and anticipated population growth of this vulnerable group. In this article, we draw on an ecodevelopmental model to focus attention on factors in the sociocultural environment that shape suicidal behaviors and NSSIs. Through analysis of qualitative interviews conducted with girls who used NSSI (n = 18), attempted suicide (n = 29), used NSSI and attempted suicide (n = 8,) and had no reported lifetime history of self-harm (n = 28), we describe the sociocultural factors that shaped psychosocial vulnerabilities and gave rise to decisions to use NSSI or attempt suicide. Our analysis revealed that adolescents who engaged in NSSI perceived their negative feelings as something that could be controlled through self-injurious acts, whereas powerlessness was a theme underlying the emotional states of girls who attempted suicide. When NSSI ceased to function as a mechanism for control, girls came to sudden decisions to attempt suicide. Most teens identified specific, and often multiple, situations that induced intense affective states and shaped decisions to inflict self-harm. Two situational experiences emerged as particularly salient and promising for subsequent studies on self-harmful behaviors among Latina adolescents: transnational stress and bullying. We describe each of these and offer suggestions for future research and practice.