Transcript Self-Injurious Behavior - Weber State University

Self-Injury

Deliberate Harm to Self


Assessment of Severity




Smoking etc…
Directness (intentionality)
Lethality
Repetition
Tissue Damage

Scratch, burn, cut
Self-Injurious Behavior

Prevalence

In a study of 15-16 yo 10.3% reported engaging in
self-injurious behavior (SIB)



Females 4x more likely to engage in SIB
In the early part of this decade the demographic
tended to be females age 20-30 (abuse and neglect)


Habitual SIB is estimated at 1%-3%
Females are socialized to internalize anger whereas men
externalize their anger
Methods

Burning, Scratching, Picking, Head Banging,
Breaking Bones, Pills, Cutting (highest at 72%)
Etiology

Sexual, Emotional, or Physical Abuse




Invalidation


1) Self-Attribution (blame, low self-worth)
Biological



A way of being in control
A way of repressing feelings (Freud)
 Stop feeling, feel something, release from tension.
A way to punish themselves for being bad
 Control and predictability
Low serotonin levels are associated with aggression and low
impulse control
Release of natural opiates (endorphins) when injury occurs
Behavioral


Operant Conditioning (rewards; e.g. distraction or attention)
Classical Conditioning (interoceptive conditioning; e.g. ns=)
Why?

Affect Regulation

Dissociative reconnection


Communication

Expression of things that cannot be said


Makes it real
Alexithymia (state of not being able to describe the
emotions one is feeling)
Control/Punishment

Trauma reenactment
Risk Factors











Mood Disorder (Anxiety/Depression)
Low Self-Esteem
Withdrawal
Few Friends
Hypersensitivity to rejection
Chronic anxiety
Avoidant in their personality
Strong dislike for themselves
Chronically angry with suppression
Abuse and Neglect
Mood Disorder
Treatment

Continuum of Care


Outpatient Treatment to Hospitalization
Treatment



Medication (Depression and Anxiety)
Interpersonal Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy





Identify Negative Automatic Thoughts
Educate about Vicious Cycle and Reinforcement
Alternatives
Behavioral Contracts
Problem Solving Therapy and DBT are most
effective