The motives for non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents with psychiatric disorders.

Abstract

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an intentional act that results in physical damage to one's body, without the intent to commit suicide. In recent years, self-injurious behaviors, including non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), have increased, especially among adolescents and young adults. The objective of this study was to investigate the motives for NSSI among adolescents with psychiatric disorders.

Methods: Adolescents aged 12 to 18 years including patients admitted to the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at a state hospital in Babol (northern Iran) and outpatients referring to this center were included in the research. Data collection occurred between February 2021 and September 2021 from a sample of 140 participants. All subjects were given a demographic questionnaire and an inventory of statements about self-injury (Klonsky and Glenn). Moreover, a structured interview was conducted with all to diagnose the nature of the underlying disorder by a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Results: A total of 140 adolescents with mean age 16.25 ± 1.48 years were assessed. Eighty-five (60.7%) of them were girls. Sixty-five (46.4%) individuals were inpatients and 75 (53.6%) were outpatients; 78 (55.8%) had a history of NSSI and 62 (44.2%) cases had no history of self-injury. The most common method of self-injury was Wounding or cutting a part of the body (n = 56(40.0%)). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) emerged as the most common psychiatric diagnosis among individuals with a history of NSSI. Emotion regulation was the most common motive for self-injury (p = 0.004). The prevalence of self-injury was higher among adolescent girls (p = 0.049). There was no significant relationship between self-injury and inpatient or outpatient status (p = 0.342).

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that NSSI in adolescents is not limited to a specific or single motive; instead, multiple factors contribute to its occurrence. NSSI methods can also vary, and all should be considered when examining this behavior.