Attitudes, cognition, and functional disability in individuals with self-harm and psychiatric disorders.
Nilsson, Magnus LU
(2021)
In Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
- Abstract
- Title: Attitudes, cognition, and functional disability in individuals with self-harm and psychiatric disorders.
Background: Self-harm is common and is associated with stigma and an increased risk for suicide attempts. There is a lack of knowledge about this behaviour, especially in clinical samples. Executive functions might be associated with self-harm, and there is also evidence that adverse childhood experiences and self-hatred are of relevance. However, there is a lack of studies in clinical samples. Similarily, there are few studies that explore the impact of self-harm on functional disability. Finally, tolerance towards self-harm could be of importance, but there’s currently no available measure that assesses tolerance... (More) - Title: Attitudes, cognition, and functional disability in individuals with self-harm and psychiatric disorders.
Background: Self-harm is common and is associated with stigma and an increased risk for suicide attempts. There is a lack of knowledge about this behaviour, especially in clinical samples. Executive functions might be associated with self-harm, and there is also evidence that adverse childhood experiences and self-hatred are of relevance. However, there is a lack of studies in clinical samples. Similarily, there are few studies that explore the impact of self-harm on functional disability. Finally, tolerance towards self-harm could be of importance, but there’s currently no available measure that assesses tolerance towards self-harm in the general population.
Aim: The current study aimed to develop a scale to measure tolerance towards self-harm, as well as to explore executive functions, functional disability, tolerance towards self-harm, self-hatred, and adverse childhood experience in a clinical group of individuals with self-harm, as compared to a clinical and a healthy control group.
Method: A questionnaire on tolerance towards self-harm was constructed and validated against other instruments in a community sample of 336 respondents and a psychiatry staff sample of 582 respondents. Furthermore, 65 individuals with psychiatric conditions, with and without self-harm, and 29 healthy controls were interviewed and assessed with relevant instruments.
Results: The questionnaire, named Lund Tolerance towards Self-harm Scale (LUTOSH), proved to have acceptable statistical characteristics. As compared to clinical and healthy controls, individuals with psychiatric conditions and self-harm exhibited deficits in one aspect of executive functions. They also reported significantly higher functional disability as compared to clinical controls. In addition, individuals with self-harm reported more childhood emotional abuse. Self-hatred mediated the impact of emotional abuse on self-harm.
Discussion: Despite some limitations, the results have expanded our understanding of self-harm in clinical samples. The results, as well as the developed instrument, can be used for further studies as well as for developing new interventions.
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/0620032a-bbb0-4c92-bab2-dd8c1539f97b
- author
- Nilsson, Magnus
LU
- supervisor
-
- Sofie Westling LU
- Åsa Westrin LU
- opponent
-
- professor Philipsen, Alexandra, University of Bonn
- organization
- publishing date
- 2021
- type
- Thesis
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Deliberate self-harm, non-suicidal self-injury, attitudes, adverse childhood experiences, stigma, executive functions,, stigma, Executive functions, functional disability, self-hatred
- in
- Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
- issue
- 2021:58
- pages
- 68 pages
- publisher
- Lund University, Faculty of Medicine
- defense location
- Dora Jacobsohn, BMC D15, Klinikgatan 32 i Lund. Join by Zoom: https://lu-se.zoom.us/j/65851941431
- defense date
- 2021-06-08 13:00:00
- ISSN
- 1652-8220
- ISBN
- 978-91-8021-064-5
- project
- Cognitive functioning, self criticism and attitudes in persons with deliberate self harm
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 0620032a-bbb0-4c92-bab2-dd8c1539f97b
- date added to LUP
- 2021-05-04 14:34:57
- date last changed
- 2021-05-07 02:25:32
@phdthesis{0620032a-bbb0-4c92-bab2-dd8c1539f97b,
abstract = {{Title: Attitudes, cognition, and functional disability in individuals with self-harm and psychiatric disorders.<br/><br/>Background: Self-harm is common and is associated with stigma and an increased risk for suicide attempts. There is a lack of knowledge about this behaviour, especially in clinical samples. Executive functions might be associated with self-harm, and there is also evidence that adverse childhood experiences and self-hatred are of relevance. However, there is a lack of studies in clinical samples. Similarily, there are few studies that explore the impact of self-harm on functional disability. Finally, tolerance towards self-harm could be of importance, but there’s currently no available measure that assesses tolerance towards self-harm in the general population.<br/><br/>Aim: The current study aimed to develop a scale to measure tolerance towards self-harm, as well as to explore executive functions, functional disability, tolerance towards self-harm, self-hatred, and adverse childhood experience in a clinical group of individuals with self-harm, as compared to a clinical and a healthy control group. <br/><br/>Method: A questionnaire on tolerance towards self-harm was constructed and validated against other instruments in a community sample of 336 respondents and a psychiatry staff sample of 582 respondents. Furthermore, 65 individuals with psychiatric conditions, with and without self-harm, and 29 healthy controls were interviewed and assessed with relevant instruments. <br/><br/>Results: The questionnaire, named Lund Tolerance towards Self-harm Scale (LUTOSH), proved to have acceptable statistical characteristics. As compared to clinical and healthy controls, individuals with psychiatric conditions and self-harm exhibited deficits in one aspect of executive functions. They also reported significantly higher functional disability as compared to clinical controls. In addition, individuals with self-harm reported more childhood emotional abuse. Self-hatred mediated the impact of emotional abuse on self-harm. <br/><br/>Discussion: Despite some limitations, the results have expanded our understanding of self-harm in clinical samples. The results, as well as the developed instrument, can be used for further studies as well as for developing new interventions.<br/>}},
author = {{Nilsson, Magnus}},
isbn = {{978-91-8021-064-5}},
issn = {{1652-8220}},
keywords = {{Deliberate self-harm; non-suicidal self-injury; attitudes; adverse childhood experiences, stigma, executive functions,; stigma; Executive functions; functional disability; self-hatred}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2021:58}},
publisher = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine}},
school = {{Lund University}},
series = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series}},
title = {{Attitudes, cognition, and functional disability in individuals with self-harm and psychiatric disorders.}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/97406250/Magnus_Nilsson_WEBB.pdf}},
year = {{2021}},
}