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. 2022 Aug;221(2):485-487.
doi: 10.1192/bjp.2021.225.

Effect of non-suicidal self-injury on suicidal ideation: real-time monitoring study

Sarah Herzog  1 , Tse-Hwei Choo  2 , Hanga Galfalvy  3 , J John Mann  3 , Barbara H Stanley  3
Affiliations

Effect of non-suicidal self-injury on suicidal ideation: real-time monitoring study

Sarah Herzog et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Clinical and empirical reports suggest that individuals use non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) not only to ameliorate dysphoria, but to curb suicidal ideation or avoid suicidal behaviour. To date, however, no study has quantitatively assessed whether NSSI leads to short-term reductions in suicidal ideation. Using real-time monitoring over 7 days in a sample with borderline personality disorder, we found evidence that NSSI is followed by reductions in suicidal ideation in the subsequent hours. This suggests that NSSI may serve as an effective, albeit maladaptive, coping strategy for suicidal states. These findings have important implications for the management of suicide risk and self-harm.

Keywords: Non-suicidal self-injury; borderline personality disorder; ecological momentary assessment; suicidal behaviour; suicidal ideation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interests: Drs. Stanley and Mann receive royalties from the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene for the commercial use of the CSSRS. All other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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