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Cao P, Peng R, Yuan Q, Zhou R, Ye M, Zhou X. Predictors of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents with depressive disorder: the role of alexithymia, childhood trauma, and body investment. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1336631. [PMID: 38638510 PMCID: PMC11024233 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1336631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study analyzes the relationship of alexithymia, childhood trauma, and body investment to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorder and whether they have predictive and diagnostic value for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorder. Patients and methods A total of 225 patients with a diagnosis of adolescent depressive disorder were included in the study and were divided into two groups according to the DSM-5 criteria: 98 cases without NSSI and 127 cases with NSSI. Compare the demographic data, 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-24), 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), and Body Investment Scale (BIS) scores between two groups. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors contributing to NSSI behaviors in adolescents with depression, and establish four predictive models. Based on the models' predictive probability, the ROC curves were plotted to calculate the value of the predictive diagnostic effect. Results The group without NSSI had lower scores than the group with NSSI on HAMD-24 total score, TAS-20 total score, difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and externally focused thinking, as well as lower scores on CTQ-SF total score, physical neglect, emotional neglect, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. In contrast, the BIS total score, body image feelings and attitudes, body care, and body protection factor scores were higher for the group without NSSI. The BIS body care factor score and the CTQ-SF emotional abuse factor score were significantly linked with adolescents diagnosed with depressive disorder who exhibited NSSI behaviors. These results provide a good diagnostic model for adolescents with depressive disorder. Conclusion Low levels of body care and childhood emotional abuse may independently contribute to the implementation of NSSI in adolescents with depressive disorder. Body investment and childhood trauma are valuable in diagnosing and predicting NSSI behaviors and should be considered as potentially important factors in clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panpan Cao
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Psychiatric Center, Hefei, China
| | - Ran Peng
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Psychiatric Center, Hefei, China
| | - Qiuyu Yuan
- Bengbu Mental Health Center, Anhui Veterans Hospital, Anmin Hospital Affiliated to Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Ruochen Zhou
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Psychiatric Center, Hefei, China
| | - Mengting Ye
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Psychiatric Center, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaoqin Zhou
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Psychiatric Center, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychology and Sleep Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Ke J, Wu J, Zhao W, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Tong Q, Guo Z, Wen Y, Li N, Yu F, Xie S, Zhu C, Wang K, Zhang L. Childhood maltreatment and engaging in NSSI for automatic-negative reinforcement: The mediating role of alexithymia and moderating role of help-seeking attitudes. J Affect Disord 2024; 350:295-303. [PMID: 38211755 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is evidence indicating that childhood maltreatment is linked to the occurrence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Nevertheless, the association between childhood maltreatment and the automatic-negative reinforcement aspect of NSSI remains understudied. Chapman's (2006) experiential avoidance model posits that the main factor in sustaining NSSI is negative reinforcement, specifically through the avoidance or escape from distressful emotional experiences. The current study examines a conceptual framework based on this theory and the available literature that explores the potential mediation role of alexithymia in the relation between childhood maltreatment and the automatic-negative reinforcement of NSSI. Additionally, this study investigates how this process may be influenced by individuals' attitudes toward seeking professional help. METHODS 3657 adolescents (1616 females) completed questionnaires regarding childhood maltreatment, alexithymia, help-seeking attitudes, the NSSI, and its functions. RESULTS The findings of the study exposed a positive link between childhood maltreatment and the automatic-negative reinforcement of NSSI, with the mediating role of alexithymia. Interestingly, it was unexpected to discover that individuals with high help-seeking attitudes experienced an intensification of the relationship between childhood maltreatment and both alexithymia and the automatic-negative reinforcement of NSSI. LIMITATION The study's cross-sectional design hindered the inference of causality. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrated that it is crucial to consider the impact of both alexithymia and help-seeking attitudes in adolescents who have experienced maltreatment. These findings hold implications for preventive interventions that target the reduction of NSSI behaviors driven by automatic-negative reinforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Ke
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jiayi Wu
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Weixiang Zhao
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yuebing Wang
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ze Zhang
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qing Tong
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zixuan Guo
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Wen
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Nan Li
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Affective Computing & Advanced Intelligent Machine, Hefei, China
| | - Fengqiong Yu
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Sisi Xie
- Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
| | - Chunyan Zhu
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
| | - Lei Zhang
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Science of Anhui Province on Adolescent Mental Health and Crisis Intelligence Intervention, Hefei, China.
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Chen XC, Xu JJ, Yin XT, Qiu YF, Yang R, Wang ZY, Han YW, Wang QK, Zhai JH, Zhang YS, Ran MS, Hu JM. Mediating role of anxiety and impulsivity in the association between child maltreatment and lifetime non-suicidal self-injury with and without suicidal self-injury. J Affect Disord 2024; 347:57-65. [PMID: 37995923 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.11.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Child maltreatment can increase the risk of lifetime non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal self-injury (SSI), but there is limited knowledge regarding the differences of potentially psychological mechanisms between NSSI with and without SSI. METHODS Participants, 3918 community-based Chinese young men aged 18-34 years in Chengdu, were included in this study. We investigated the association between depression, anxiety, psychosis, child maltreatment, adulthood traumatic events, impulsivity, alcohol dependence, drug abuse, and lifetime of NSSI among participants with and without SSI. Parallel mediation analysis was utilized to explore the mediators for the relation between child maltreatment and NSSI. RESULTS The prevalence of lifetime NSSI was 6.1 % (95 % CI: 5.4 %-6.9 %) among young men. Anxiety and impulsivity partially mediated the effect of child maltreatment on NSSI either with (indirect effect: 51.2 %) or without SSI (indirect effect: 34.3 %). Depression was independently and significantly associated with only NSSI but not with NSSI+SSI. Alcohol dependence and psychosis were independently and significantly associated with NSSI+SSI and mediated the effect of child maltreatment on NSSI+SSI. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional survey data limits the robustness of the proof to the causal relationships. CONCLUSIONS Anxiety and impulsivity are associated with NSSI either with or without SSI and partially mediate the effect of child maltreatment on NSSI. Depression is associated with only NSSI, while alcohol dependence and psychosis are only associated with NSSI+SSI. It could be crucial to improve treatment and recovery of alcohol dependence and psychosis for preventing young men engaged in NSSI from attempting SSI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia-Can Chen
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jia-Jun Xu
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao-Tong Yin
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu-Feng Qiu
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Rui Yang
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zi-Ye Wang
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi-Wei Han
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qi-Kai Wang
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jin-Hui Zhai
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu-Shu Zhang
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mao-Sheng Ran
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Jun-Mei Hu
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Wu B, Zhang H, Chen J, Chen J, Liu Z, Cheng Y, Yuan T, Peng D. Potential mechanisms of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in major depressive disorder: a systematic review. Gen Psychiatr 2023; 36:e100946. [PMID: 37655114 PMCID: PMC10465892 DOI: 10.1136/gpsych-2022-100946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baichuan Wu
- Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huifeng Zhang
- Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinghong Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- General Psychiatry Editorial Office, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaye Chen
- Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhifen Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Yuqi Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Tifei Yuan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Daihui Peng
- Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Zhang B, Zhang W, Sun L, Jiang C, Zhou Y, He K. Relationship between alexithymia, loneliness, resilience and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents with depression: a multi-center study. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:445. [PMID: 37337144 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04938-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors are prevalent in adolescents and have adverse effects on physical and mental health. However, little is known about the relationship between NSSI and alexithymia, or the underlying mechanisms that could explain this relationship. This study aimed to elucidate the current status of NSSI in adolescent depression, and analyze the relationship between alexithymia, loneliness, resilience, and adolescent depression with NSSI, so as to provide a theoretical basis for psychotherapeutic interventions. METHOD The study sample involved inpatients and outpatients from 12 hospitals across China and adolescents with depression who met the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for depression episode. The following scales were used: The Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Connor Davidson Resilience Scale. RESULTS The detection rate of NSSI in adolescents with depression from 2021.01.01-2022.01.01 was 76.06% (1782/2343). Spearman's correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between alexithymia, loneliness, resilience and NSSI in depressed adolescents, and the results of the non-parametric test showed that the differences between the two groups for each factor were statistically significant. Binary logistic regression results showed that alexithymia (B = 0.023, p = 0.003, OR = 1.023, 95% CI: 1.008-1.038) and depression (B = 0.045, p < 0.001, OR = 1.046, 95% CI: 1.026-1.066) are risk factors for NSSI, resilience (B = - 0.052, p < 0.001, OR = 0.949, 95% CI: 0.935 - 0.964) is a protective factor for NSSI. Alexithymia directly predicted NSSI and also indirectly influenced NSSI through the mediated effect of resilience. Loneliness moderates the first half of the path of this mediated model. CONCLUSION The present study confirms a moderated mediation effect: Alexithymia can have an impact on NSSI behaviors in depressed adolescents through the mediating role of resilience. Loneliness, as a moderating variable, moderated the first half of the pathway of the mediating model. We discuss perspectives for future research and interventions based on the findings of the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Zhang
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Anhui Mental Health Center, 230022, Hefei, China
- Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Anhui Mental Health Center, 230022, Hefei, China
- Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Lingmin Sun
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Anhui Mental Health Center, 230022, Hefei, China
- Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Cheng Jiang
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Yongjie Zhou
- Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
- Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| | - Kongliang He
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.
- Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.
- Anhui Mental Health Center, 230022, Hefei, China.
- Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China.
- Psychological counseling department, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Anhui, 230000, China.
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Dong Z, Zhou J, Conti A, Westwood SJ, Fu X, Liu Q, Yuan Y, Huang X, Qiu C, Zhang X, Tang W. Association between alexithymia and non-suicidal self-injury in psychiatric patients: the mediating role of self-esteem and the moderating role of emotional intelligence. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 162:57-64. [PMID: 37088044 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Raffagnato's theory claims that if people have no words to express their emotions (alexithymia), they express themselves by venting or through non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, these associations have not been confirmed in psychiatric patients. This study explored the relationship between alexithymia and NSSI in psychiatric patients and the potential underlying psychological mechanisms. METHODS This retrospective study involved face-to-face interviews with 449 outpatients consecutively recruited from West China Hospital. Alexithymia, self-esteem, NSSI, and emotional intelligence (EI) were measured. The moderating role of EI and the mediating role of self-esteem between alexithymia and NSSI were also explored. Logistic regressions were used to examine whether sociodemographic, clinical variables and alexithymia were independently associated with NSSI. RESULTS The DSM-5 NSSI disorder and alexithymia prevalences were found to be 32.5% and 45.2%. When the other covariables were controlled for, the alexithymic patients were found to be at increased odds (OR 2.76) of engaging in NSSI behaviors. These results confirmed the strong associations between alexithymia, low self-esteem, and NSSI risk. Lower EI was found to be related to the connections between alexithymia and NSSI. Except for the lower risk in anxiety patients, the risk of NSSI was similar for patients with other mental disorders, CONCLUSION: This study revealed the psychological mechanisms through which alexithymia increases the risk of NSSI. Therefore, to reduce NSSI risk, screening for alexithymia should be emphasized. Self-esteem as a targeted psychological intervention could also assist in mitigating the process from alexithymia to NSSI behaviors, and EI training for psychiatric patients could weaken the relationship between alexithymia and NSSI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaiquan Dong
- Mental Health Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Leshan People's Hospital, Leshan, Sichuan, China
| | - Aldo Conti
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Samuel J Westwood
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Science, University of Westminster, London, UK
| | - Xia Fu
- Out-patient Department of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Out-patient Department of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yanling Yuan
- Department of Pharmacy of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xia Huang
- Mental Health Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Changjian Qiu
- Mental Health Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wanjie Tang
- Mental Health Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
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Tang WC, Lin MP, Wu JYW, Lee YT, You J. Mediating role of depression in the association between alexithymia and nonsuicidal self-injury in a representative sample of adolescents in Taiwan. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2022; 16:43. [PMID: 35705987 PMCID: PMC9202208 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-022-00477-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nock's (2009) integrated theoretical model suggests that specific intrapersonal vulnerability factors caused by distal risk factors contribute to the development of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Alexithymia and depression have been found to predict NSSI. Based on Nock's model, alexithymia plays a distal risk factor role to increase the risk of depression-an intrapersonal vulnerability factor-and further increase the risk of NSSI. However, small or unrepresentative samples in past studies limit the generalizability of the results. This study examined the roles of depression and alexithymia in predicting NSSI, as well as the mediating effect of depression in the relation between alexithymia and NSSI in a large representative sample of adolescents in Taiwan. METHODS Using a cross-sectional study design, a large representative sample of 2,170 senior high school students in Taiwan was assessed by self-report measures of alexithymia, depression, and NSSI. Mediation analyses were performed to examine whether the relation between alexithymia and NSSI was mediated by depression. The questionnaires were administered in classrooms. RESULTS Results showed that alexithymia positively predicted NSSI (β = 0.23, p < .001) and depression can also positively predict NSSI (β = 0.41, p < .001). Additionally, the association between alexithymia and NSSI was fully mediated by depression. CONCLUSIONS This study data provided evidence for the mediating role of depression between alexithymia and NSSI, which can be explained by Nock's (2009) integrated theoretical model. The implications of the findings for future research and intervention were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ching Tang
- grid.412090.e0000 0001 2158 7670Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Taiwan Normal University, No.162, Sec. 1, Heping E. Rd., Da-an District, 106 Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Min-Pei Lin
- Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Taiwan Normal University, No.162, Sec. 1, Heping E. Rd., Da-an District, 106, Taipei City, Taiwan.
| | - Jo Yung-Wei Wu
- Good-Day Psychology Clinic, 5F., No. 167, Xialin Rd., South District, 702 Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Ting Lee
- grid.412120.40000 0004 0639 002XDepartment of Counseling and Guidance, National University of Tainan, No.33, Sec. 2, Shu- Lin St, 700 Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jianing You
- grid.263785.d0000 0004 0368 7397Center for Studies of Psychological Application, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), & School of Psychology, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, 510631 Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Qian H, Shu C, Feng L, Xiang J, Guo Y, Wang G. Childhood Maltreatment, Stressful Life Events, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies, and Non-suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents and Young Adults With First-Episode Depressive Disorder: Direct and Indirect Pathways. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:838693. [PMID: 35492724 PMCID: PMC9039129 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.838693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Childhood maltreatment (CM), stressful life events (SLE), and cognitive emotion regulation strategies (CERS) have been considered crucial in the development of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and major depressive disorder (MDD), but the pathways of this association are not clear. We aim to identify direct effects of CM and SLE on NSSI and depression severity and its indirect effects via CERS in adolescents and young adults with a diagnosis of MDD. METHODS A total of 114 patients (aged 14-24 years) with first episode MDD were included and further divided into the NSSI group (n = 56) and non-NSSI group (n = 58) according to the DSM-5 criteria. Diagnostic interviews and self-report measures were conducted to assess CM, SLE, CERS, and diagnose NSSI. Severity of depressive symptoms was measured using the Hamilton Rating Scale (HAMD). The structural equation model was used to assess the pathways. RESULTS MDD patients with NSSI had more frequent family history of mental illness, more experience of CM and SLE, more serious depression, less use of adaptive CERS, and more use of maladaptive CERS. In the final structural equation model (χ2 = 4.82, df = 6, p = 0.57, CFI = 1.0, TLI = 1.10, and RMSEA = 0), the experience of CM and SLE showed a significant indirect effect on NSSI through adaptive CERS. CM and SLE only had direct effects on depression severity. CONCLUSIONS NSSI are prevalent in adolescents and young adults with MDD and highly intertwined with CM, SLE, and CERS. Adaptive CERS, not maladaptive CERS may be a possible mechanism relating CM and SLE to NSSI in MDD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Qian
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chang Shu
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Feng
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Junyi Xiang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Guo
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Gaohua Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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9
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Hébert M, Smith K, Boisjoli C, Larouche S. Validation of the French version of the Children's Alexithymia Measure. L'ENCEPHALE 2021; 47:306-313. [DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2020.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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10
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Tang WC, Lin MP, You J, Wu JYW, Chen KC. Prevalence and psychosocial risk factors of nonsuicidal self-injury among adolescents during the COVID-19 outbreak. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 42:1-10. [PMID: 34092987 PMCID: PMC8167308 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01931-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The research investigated the prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) during the COVID-19 outbreak and identified the psychosocial risk factors among junior high school students in Taiwan. Cross-sectional design was applied and 1,060 participants (Mage = 14.66, SD = 0.86 years) were recruited into the study. The prevalence of NSSI was found to be 40.9% (95% confidence interval, 37.9%-43.9%) during the COVID-19 outbreak. The results suggested that the self-injurers group were mostly female, and scored significantly higher in neuroticism, depression, impulsivity, alexithymia, virtual social support, dissatisfaction with academic performance, and lower in subjective wellbeing, self-esteem, actual social support, and family function than the non-injurers group. In addition, high neuroticism, low self-esteem, high virtual social support, high impulsivity, and high alexithymia were independently predictive in the logistic regression analysis. The principal results of this study suggested that NSSI was extremely prevalent among adolescents during the COVID-19 outbreak, and in particularly, personality and virtual environment risk factors and enhancing self-esteem should be the focus of NSSI preventive strategies when targeting this age population. Our results provide a reference towards designing NSSI prevention programs geared toward the high school population during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ching Tang
- Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Taiwan Normal University, No.162, Sec. 1, Heping E. Rd., Da-an District, Taipei City, 106 Taiwan
| | - Min-Pei Lin
- Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Taiwan Normal University, No.162, Sec. 1, Heping E. Rd., Da-an District, Taipei City, 106 Taiwan
| | - Jianing You
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application & School of Psychology, South China Normal University, No. 155 Zhongshan W. Rd, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jo Yung-Wei Wu
- Good-Day Psychology Clinic, 5F., No. 167, Xialin Rd., South District, Tainan City, 702 Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Chu Chen
- Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Taiwan Normal University, No.162, Sec. 1, Heping E. Rd., Da-an District, Taipei City, 106 Taiwan
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Tatnell R, Hasking P, Newman L. Multiple mediation modelling exploring relationships between specific aspects of attachment, emotion regulation, and non‐suicidal self‐injury. AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ajpy.12166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Tatnell
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia,
| | - Penelope Hasking
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia,
- School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia,
| | - Louise Newman
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia,
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Women's Mental Health, Royal Women's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia,
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12
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Perez S, Lorca F, Marco JH. "Dissociation, posttraumatic stress symptoms, emotional dysregulation, and invalidating environments as correlates of NSSI in borderline personality disorder patients". J Trauma Dissociation 2020; 21:520-535. [PMID: 31994457 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2020.1719262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Theoretical models have proposed that inadequate caregiving environments undermine the development of adaptive regulation strategies at early stages and can lead children to inadequate regulation skills for coping with distress, such as dissociation, posttraumatic stress, and NSSI. The main aim of this work was to examine NSSI types and functions and the relationship between the aforementioned variables and lifetime NSSI in 102 patients with BPD diagnoses or BPD subthreshold symptoms. In addition, we explored the moderator role of dissociation between invalidating environments and NSSI. Results showed that 83.7% of the sample self-injured more than 5 times during their lifetime; 62.7% swallowed dangerous substances; 58.8% hit themselves; and 46% cut themselves. Regression analyses revealed that the model including variables with significant correlations with NSSI explained 27% of the variance in NSSI, with dissociation and invalidating behaviors of the father best explaining the variance in NSSI. In addition, dissociation moderated the association between invalidating behaviors of the father and NSSI. These results highlight the important role of invalidating environments, dissociation, and posttraumatic stress symptoms in NSSI in patients with BPD, and the need to assess and treat dissociation and posttraumatic symptoms in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Perez
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Therapeutic Interventions, Universidad Católica De Valencia "San Vicente Mártir" , Valencia, Spain
| | - Fátima Lorca
- Escuela De Doctorado (School of Doctoral Studies), Universidad Católica De Valencia "San Vicente Mártir" , Valencia, Spain
| | - Jose H Marco
- Department of Personality, Assessment, and Psychological Treatments, Universidad De Valencia , Valencia, Spain
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13
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Norman H, Oskis A, Marzano L, Coulson M. The relationship between self‐harm and alexithymia: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Scand J Psychol 2020; 61:855-876. [DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hilary Norman
- Faculty of Science and Technology Middlesex University London UK
| | - Andrea Oskis
- Faculty of Science and Technology Middlesex University London UK
| | - Lisa Marzano
- Faculty of Science and Technology Middlesex University London UK
| | - Mark Coulson
- School of Psychology University of East Anglia Norwich UK
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Alexithymia and self-harm: A review of nonsuicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Psychiatry Res 2020; 288:112920. [PMID: 32279008 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Suicide attempts are a significant global public health concern. Research into non-traditional factors, such as the presence of alexithymia, may shed light on the prediction of suicidal behaviours, which can aid intervention and prevention strategies. To ascertain whether alexithymia is a unique risk factor for suicide attempts, this article reviews the evidence on alexithymia related to suicidal ideation, attempts, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). METHODS A literature search was conducted for original articles examining the general and psychiatric populations. RESULTS There is consistent evidence linking alexithymia with suicidal ideation and NSSI, but inconsistent evidence linking it to suicide attempts. CONCLUSION The relationship between alexithymia and suicidality seems to differ based on whether the research focuses on suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, or NSSI. The relationship between alexithymia and suicidality can be understood within the context of multiple code theory and childhood trauma. Future research should explore the whether alexithymia can reliably distinguish between those with a single attempt and those with multiple suicide attempts as well as alexithymia levels pre- and post-intervention with suicide-related behavior as outcomes in treatment studies.
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15
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Gonzalez-Blanks A, Bridgewater JM, Yates TM. Statistical Approaches for Highly Skewed Data: Evaluating Relations between Maltreatment and Young Adults' Non-Suicidal Self-injury. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 49:147-161. [PMID: 32077745 DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2020.1724543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Clinical phenomena often feature skewed distributions with an overabundance of zeros. Unfortunately, empirical methods for dealing with this violation of distributional assumptions underlying regression are typically discussed in statistical journals with limited translation to applied researchers. Therefore, this investigation compared statistical approaches for addressing highly skewed data as applied to the evaluation of relations between child maltreatment and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Method: College students (N = 2,651; 64.2% female; 85.2% nonwhite) completed the Child Abuse and Trauma Scale and the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation. Statistical models were applied to cross-sectional data to provide illustrative comparisons across predictions to a) raw, highly skewed NSSI outcomes, b) natural log, square-root, and inverse NSSI transformations to reduce skew, c) zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) and negative-binomial zero-inflated (NBZI) regression models to account for both disproportionate zeros and skewness in the NSSI data, and d) the skew-t distribution to model NSSI skewness. Results: Child maltreatment was significantly and positively related to NSSI frequency in the raw, transformation, and zero-inflated models, but this relation was negative in the skew-t model. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of using zero-inflated models rather than transformation approaches to address data skew. Moreover, whereas the skew-t distribution has been used to model skewed non-clinical data, this study suggests that the skew-t approach may not be well-suited to address skewed clinical data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tuppett M Yates
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside
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16
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Moseley RL, Gregory NJ, Smith P, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S. Links between self-injury and suicidality in autism. Mol Autism 2020; 11:14. [PMID: 32039740 PMCID: PMC7008575 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-0319-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autistic individuals without intellectual disability are at heightened risk of self-injury, and appear to engage in it for similar reasons as non-autistic people. A wide divergence of autistic perspectives on self-injury, including those who frame it as a helpful coping mechanism, motivate investigating the link between self-injury, suicide ideation, and attempts which has been reported in typically developing individuals. METHOD One hundred three autistic participants completed the Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Tool (NSSI-AT), the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire (SBQ-R), and the Interpersonal Social Evaluation List (ISEL-12) across two online studies. Logistic regression was conducted to predict self-harming status via responses to questions on suicidality, and to predict whether certain self-injurious behaviors, including cutting, were especially associated with suicide ideation and attempts. Non-parametric correlation analysis examined relationships between suicide ideation/attempts and other variables that might characterize self-harmers especially at risk of suicidality. These included perceived access to social support, purposes or reasons for self-injury, the number of different self-injurious behaviors engaged in, the duration and lifetime incidence of self-injury, and the individual's feelings about their self-injury. RESULTS While self-injuring status was significantly predicted by responses to a question on suicide ideation and attempts, there was no relationship between suicide ideation/attempts and a participant's personal feelings about their self-injury. The method of cutting was also predicted by suicide ideation and attempts, though other methods common in autistic people were at borderline significance. Use of self-injury for the regulation of low-energy emotional states like depression, for self-punishment or deterrence from suicide, and for sensory stimulation, was associated with suicide ideation and attempts, as was the number of self-injurious behaviors engaged in. There was no significant relationship between suicide ideation/attempts and the duration and lifetime incidence of self-injury or social support. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary data suggest that while individuals might frame their self-injury as a positive or neutral thing, there remains a concerning relationship between self-injury and suicidality which exists regardless of individual feelings on self-injury. This is consistent with the theoretical perspective that self-injury can be a "gateway" through which individuals acquire capability for lethal suicidal behaviors. The data highlight that particular methods (cutting) and reasons for self-injury may be of significant concern, but this information, which might be of extreme value for clinicians, requires further investigation and validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. L. Moseley
- Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK
| | - N. J. Gregory
- Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK
| | - P. Smith
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - C. Allison
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - S. Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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17
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Zetterqvist M, Perini I, Mayo LM, Gustafsson PA. Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder in Adolescents: Clinical Utility of the Diagnosis Using the Clinical Assessment of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder Index. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:8. [PMID: 32116833 PMCID: PMC7034359 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonsuicidal self-injury disorder (NSSID) is a condition in need of further study, especially in adolescent and clinical populations where it is particularly prevalent and studies are limited. Twenty-nine clinical self-injuring adolescents were included in the study. The Clinical Assessment of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder Index (CANDI) was used to assess prevalence of NSSID. The NSSID diagnosis criteria were met by 62.1% of adolescents. The impairment or distress criterion was least often met. Criteria B and C (assessing reasons for NSSI and cognitions/emotions prior to NSSI) were confirmed by 96-100% of all participants. Adolescents with NSSI in this clinical sample had several comorbidities and high levels of psychopathology. NSSID occurred both in combination with and independently of borderline personality disorder traits as well as suicide plans and attempts. Those with NSSID had a significantly higher cutting frequency than those not meeting full NSSID criteria. Other NSSI characteristics, comorbidity, psychopathology, and trauma experiences did not differ between groups. CANDI was a feasible tool to assess NSSID in adolescents. It is important to use structured measures to assess the validity of the NSSID diagnosis across development in both community and clinical samples. The clinical utility of the NSSID diagnosis is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Zetterqvist
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Region Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Irene Perini
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Leah M Mayo
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per A Gustafsson
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Region Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden
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18
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Greene D, Boyes M, Hasking P. The associations between alexithymia and both non-suicidal self-injury and risky drinking: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord 2020; 260:140-166. [PMID: 31494366 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI; direct harm to the body without suicidal intent) and risky drinking are two behaviours that serve emotion regulatory functions. When underlying emotional problems are untreated, individuals may shift between NSSI and risky drinking. Both behaviours are associated with alexithymia, difficulties identifying and describing emotions and retaining an externally orientated thinking style. However, it is unknown to what extent the associations are similar and under what circumstances (e.g. sex, age) they may differ. METHOD To compare both associations we conducted an extensive review using several databases. Overall, 20 NSSI-related articles and 33 risky drinking-related articles met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS A meta-analysis revealed significant positive associations between total alexithymia scores, difficulties identifying feelings, difficulties describing feelings and both NSSI and risky drinking. However, these associations appear stronger for NSSI. Further, externally orientated thinking was associated with risky drinking but not NSSI. Age had opposing moderating effects on the relationships, with the association between alexithymia and NSSI being stronger in younger samples and the association between alexithymia and risky drinking being stronger in older samples. Further, the association between alexithymia and NSSI was stronger for female only samples compared to male only samples. LIMITATIONS The review was limited to English articles. High levels of heterogeneity were observed. The majority of the studies included were cross-sectional. CONCLUSION These results imply that NSSI and risky drinking may have both shared and distinguishable correlates. Alexithymia can be targeted in treatment to potentially reduce the likelihood of individuals shifting between behaviours to regulate their emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyelle Greene
- School of Psychology, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, 6845, Australia
| | - Mark Boyes
- School of Psychology, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, 6845, Australia
| | - Penelope Hasking
- School of Psychology, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, 6845, Australia.
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19
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Belastende Kindheitserfahrungen und selbstverletzendes Verhalten – die Rolle der Emotionsregulation. Prax Kinderpsychol Kinderpsychiatr 2019; 68:623-638. [DOI: 10.13109/prkk.2019.68.7.623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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20
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Demers LA, Schreiner MW, Hunt RH, Mueller BA, Klimes-Dougan B, Thomas KM, Cullen KR. Alexithymia is associated with neural reactivity to masked emotional faces in adolescents who self-harm. J Affect Disord 2019; 249:253-261. [PMID: 30780118 PMCID: PMC6724702 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.02.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major, trans-diagnostic mental health problem among adolescents. Alexithymia has been identified as a developmental risk factor for NSSI. Research on how alexithymia relates to the neurobiology of automatic emotion processing is only beginning to emerge. This study evaluates the relationship between alexithymic features and neural responses to automatic processing of emotional content in adolescents with NSSI. METHODS 25 female adolescents (ages 13-21) with a history of repeated engagement in NSSI completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a task in which participants were exposed to masked emotions. RESULTS One facet of alexithymia, limited internal emotion awareness or externally-oriented thinking (EOT), was related to differential reactivity to masked emotional faces in clusters in the right supramarginal gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus. Follow-up assessment of regional reactivity revealed that greater EOT is associated with lower activation to masked happy faces but higher activation to masked fearful faces. Other facets of alexithymia did not show relationships with reactivity to masked emotional faces. LIMITATIONS This is a cross-sectional and small sample that only includes females, which may attenuate generalizability of findings. CONCLUSIONS We report neural correlates of multiple facets of alexithymia in adolescents with NSSI. Among adolescents who self-harm, those with higher levels of EOT may be less alert to subtle positively-valenced emotion cues. For this subset of adolescents with NSSI, interventions designed to enhance mental representation of emotional responses and attention to positive emotions may be appropriate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Demers
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | | | - Ruskin H Hunt
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Bryon A Mueller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Bonnie Klimes-Dougan
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kathleen M Thomas
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kathryn R Cullen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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21
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Černis E, Chan C, Cooper M. What is the relationship between dissociation and self-harming behaviour in adolescents? Clin Psychol Psychother 2019; 26:328-338. [PMID: 30690804 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Deliberate self-harm in adolescents is an increasing clinical problem, but there is a limited understanding of the mechanisms causing or maintaining this behaviour. One proposed mechanism is that of dissociation. However, the role this mechanism may play is unclear: although some suggest that adolescents engage in self-harm to end the aversive experience of dissociation, others propose that self-harm is used to purposefully trigger a dissociative state to avoid emotional pain. This systematic review is the first to evaluate the available evidence regarding the relationship between dissociation and deliberate self-harm in adolescents (aged 18 or younger). Nineteen relevant studies were identified. These studies were limited by cross-sectional design and poor methods of measurement, but some important conclusions could be drawn. The majority of studies found a positive correlation between the severity of dissociation and the severity and frequency of deliberate self-harm in adolescents, and a small number of results suggest that dissociation mediates the relationship between childhood trauma and adolescent self-harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Černis
- Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Training, The Isis Education Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Carmen Chan
- Horizon, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Witney, UK
| | - Myra Cooper
- Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Training, The Isis Education Centre, Oxford, UK
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22
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Sfärlea A, Dehning S, Keller LK, Schulte-Körne G. Alexithymia predicts maladaptive but not adaptive emotion regulation strategies in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa or depression. J Eat Disord 2019; 7:41. [PMID: 31798880 PMCID: PMC6883686 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-019-0271-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among adolescent girls, anorexia nervosa (AN) and major depression (MD) are common and often comorbid mental health problems. Both disorders are characterised by difficulties in recognising and verbalising (alexithymia) as well as regulating one's emotions, but research in adolescent patients is scarce and little is known about the relation between alexithymia and difficulties in emotion regulation. The aims of this study were to investigate alexithymia and emotion regulation skills in adolescents with AN, adolescents with MD, and healthy adolescents, and to determine whether alexithymia functions as a predictor for emotion regulation skills. METHODS Emotion regulation strategies, alexithymia, and depressive symptoms were assessed by questionnaire measures in 12-18 year old girls with AN (n = 26), girls with MD (n = 25), and healthy girls (n = 35). Groups were compared with respect to the these variables and multiple regression analyses were calculated separately for adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies in order to examine if alexithymia predicted emotion regulation over and above age and depressive symptoms. RESULTS Girls with AN or MD both reported using adaptive emotion regulation strategies less frequently and maladaptive emotion regulation skills more frequently as well as higher levels of alexithymia compared to healthy girls. Alexithymia positively predicted maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, while depressive symptoms negatively predicted adaptive emotion regulation strategies. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that different mechanisms may underlie the lack of adaptive and the surplus of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies in adolescent psychiatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Sfärlea
- 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Dehning
- 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Lena Katharina Keller
- 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336 Munich, Germany.,2Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Psychology, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Gerd Schulte-Körne
- 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336 Munich, Germany
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23
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Aaron RV, Snodgress MA, Blain SD, Park S. Affect labeling and other aspects of emotional experiences in relation to alexithymia following standardized emotion inductions. Psychiatry Res 2018; 262:115-123. [PMID: 29428774 PMCID: PMC5866771 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Alexithymia is associated with increased risk for mental and physical health disorders but available assessments rely exclusively on self-report. The major aim of the current study was to develop and implement a performance-based task designed to characterize and quantify the relationship between one's description of emotional experience and self-reported alexithymia. Specifically, we examined performance-based measures of affect labeling of one's own emotions, emotional granularity and dialecticism. Healthy participants (N = 108) completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 Item Questionnaire. Participants viewed a series of film clips standardized to elicit discrete emotional states. After each clip, they indicated the emotion they experienced "the most" and rated a list of non-primary emotions, which formed indices of emotional granularity and dialecticism. Alexithymia was associated with increased tendency to report experiencing "no emotion" following evocative film clips, reduced negative emotional granularity and dialecticism of experienced emotions. TAS-20 subscales were each associated with a unique set of emotional correlates. In a healthy population, alexithymia is associated with reduced awareness of emotional states, and reduced dialecticism and granularity of negative (but not positive) emotions. Our performance-based assessment enriches understanding of the mechanisms underlying alexithymia by underscoring the central importance of emotion awareness, negative emotional granularity and dialecticism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel V Aaron
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington and Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Matthew A Snodgress
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Department of Psychology, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Scott D Blain
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Department of Psychology, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Sohee Park
- Vanderbilt University Department of Psychology, Nashville, TN, USA.
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Childhood maltreatment and non-suicidal self-injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry 2018; 5:51-64. [PMID: 29196062 PMCID: PMC5743605 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(17)30469-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-suicidal self-injury is being increasingly recognised as a prominent public health concern. Identification of early and modifiable risk factors is necessary to advance the screening and intervention efforts, particularly early detection of at-risk individuals. We aimed to examine childhood maltreatment, including its specific subtypes, in relation to non-suicidal self-injury. METHODS We did a comprehensive meta-analysis of childhood maltreatment (overall, sexual abuse, physical abuse and neglect, and emotional abuse and neglect) in association with non-suicidal self-injury. We also provided a qualitative review of mediators and moderators of this association. We identified relevant articles published from inception to Sept 25, 2017, through a systematic search of Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. We extracted continuous and categorical data and assessed for potential moderators using ten study characteristics. We generated random-effects models for analysis and evaluated for publication bias. FINDINGS We identified 71 publications that met eligibility criteria. Overall childhood maltreatment was associated with non-suicidal self-injury (odds ratio 3·42, 95% CI 2·74-4·26), and effect sizes for maltreatment subtypes ranged from 1·84 (1·45-2·34) for childhood emotional neglect to 3·03 (2·56-3·54) for childhood emotional abuse. Publication bias was not evident, except in the case of childhood emotional neglect. Across multiple maltreatment subtypes, we found stronger associations with non-suicidal self-injury in non-clinical samples. INTERPRETATION With the exception of childhood emotional neglect, childhood maltreatment and its subtypes are associated with non-suicidal self-injury. Screening of childhood maltreatment history in non-suicidal self-injury risk assessments might hold particular value in community settings, and increased attention to childhood emotional abuse is warranted. FUNDING National Institute of Mental Health.
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Sleuwaegen E, Houben M, Claes L, Berens A, Sabbe B. The relationship between non-suicidal self-injury and alexithymia in borderline personality disorder: "Actions instead of words". Compr Psychiatry 2017. [PMID: 28646684 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness that centers on the inability to effectively regulate emotions. A large amount of BPD patients engage in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Given the NSSI contributes to serious health risks, it is important to know why some BPD patients engage in NSSI and others do not. A possible associated factor of NSSI in BPD may be alexithymia, which reflects difficulties in identifying and communicating feelings. Therefore the aim of the present study was to investigate whether NSSI was associated with alexithymia and whether this association still stood when controlling for gender and depression. METHODS The current study explored the relationship between NSSI and alexithymia in 185 BPD patients by means of the Self-Injury Questionnaire-Treatment Related and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS). RESULTS Of the 185 BPD inpatients, 82.7% reported life-time NSSI, of whom 52.9% were still engaging in current NSSI; and 71.3% scored in the alexithymic range (cut-off score≥61). Current NSSI was significantly associated with TAS-total. Additionally, when considering the separate TAS subscales Difficulties Describing Feelings (DDF), Difficulties Identifying Feelings (DIF) and Externally Oriented Thinking (EOT), only DDF was significantly associated with NSSI, even after controlling for gender and depression. CONCLUSION These results suggest that NSSI in BPD patients is associated with alexithymia. More specific, difficulties describing feelings can lead to NSSI, independently of the depressive status of the BPD patient. The implications for clinical treatment of self-injurious BPD patients will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Sleuwaegen
- University Department of Psychiatry, Campus Psychiatric Hospital, Duffel, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Marlies Houben
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurence Claes
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ann Berens
- University Department of Psychiatry, Campus Psychiatric Hospital, Duffel, Belgium
| | - Bernard Sabbe
- University Department of Psychiatry, Campus Psychiatric Hospital, Duffel, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Loas G, Braun S, Delhaye M, Linkowski P. The measurement of alexithymia in children and adolescents: Psychometric properties of the Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children and the twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale in different non-clinical and clinical samples of children and adolescents. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177982. [PMID: 28542508 PMCID: PMC5444663 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
This study had two aims. Firstly, the psychometric properties of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children (AQC) that measure the three dimensions of alexithymia (DIF, difficulty identifying feelings; DDF, difficulty describing feelings; EOT, externally-oriented thinking) were explored in various samples of children, adolescents or young adults to detect the best factor-structure and to examine if the Externally-Oriented Thinking (EOT) factor must be deleted or not. Secondly, the capacity for adolescents to distinguish between alexithymia and depression was studied using factorial analyses of items of self-report of alexithymia and depression scales. Four groups were examined (80 healthy children, 105 adolescents with various psychiatric disorders, 333 healthy older adolescents and 505 young adults recruited from universities). The first two groups filled out the AQC and the latter two the TAS-20. Confirmatory factorial analyses (CFA) showed that the two-factor model (DIF, DDF) provided acceptable fits and had significant advantages over the three-factor model (DIF, DDF, EOT). Low alpha coefficients for the EOT subscale were reported (range from 0.18–0.61). Except for the children sample, exploratory factorial analyses (EFA) were performed on the items of the TAS-20 or AQC without the EOT items and the Beck depression inventory-II (BDI-II) or the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). The items of the AQC and BDI-II or items of the TAS-20 and SDS loaded on separate factors with only a minor overlap suggesting that adolescents were able to differentiate alexithymia and depression when self-assessments were used. Alexithymia can be reliably assessed in adolescents using the TAS-20 or AQC without the eight items rating the EOT dimension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwenolé Loas
- Department of Psychiatry & Laboratory of Psychiatric Research (ULB 266), Cliniques universitaires de Bruxelles, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Bruxelles, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Stéphanie Braun
- Department of Psychiatry & Laboratory of Psychiatric Research (ULB 266), Cliniques universitaires de Bruxelles, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Marie Delhaye
- Department of Psychiatry & Laboratory of Psychiatric Research (ULB 266), Cliniques universitaires de Bruxelles, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Paul Linkowski
- Department of Psychiatry & Laboratory of Psychiatric Research (ULB 266), Cliniques universitaires de Bruxelles, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Bruxelles, Belgium
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Plener PL, Brunner R, Fegert JM, Groschwitz RC, In-Albon T, Kaess M, Kapusta ND, Resch F, Becker K. Treating nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents: consensus based German guidelines. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2016; 10:46. [PMID: 27933099 PMCID: PMC5126819 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-016-0134-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a frequent and clinically relevant phenomenon in adolescence. Within Europe, Germany has one of the highest prevalence rates in youth with lifetime prevalence ranging between 25 and 35%. However, treatment guidelines for NSSI are not yet available. METHODS Consensus based clinical guidelines were created by a working group consisting of members of eleven medical, psychological or psychotherapeutic professional national associations, and two members of patient self-help and prevention groups. The guidelines were developed in consecutive expert meetings and literature searches and agreed on in a final consensus conference. RESULTS Given that evidence on both the psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological treatment of NSSI is limited, a consensus based approach was chosen. The consensus indicated that due to the accumulating evidence on the efficacy of psychotherapeutic approaches, core elements of psychotherapy should be provided in treatment of NSSI. A specific psychopharmacological therapy of NSSI cannot be recommended. In addition, the guidelines provide recommendations for surgical intervention of NSSI. CONCLUSIONS In accordance with the heterogeneous level of evidence, recommendations for the clinical management of NSSI in adolescence were made during a consensus conference after reviewing available literature. There is still a lack of knowledge on prevention as well as clinical interventions, which needs to be addressed by further clinically relevant studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul L. Plener
- Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Romuald Brunner
- Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jörg M. Fegert
- Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Rebecca C. Groschwitz
- Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tina In-Albon
- Dept. of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Michael Kaess
- Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nestor D. Kapusta
- Dept. of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Franz Resch
- Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katja Becker
- Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Marburg and Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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