A unified theoretical framework for understanding suicidal and self-harming behavior: Synthesis of diverging definitions and perspectives
(2014) 3rd International Conference on Borderline Personality Disorder and Allied Disorders- Abstract
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has largely been associated with self-harm and chronic suicidality, despite the fact that these behaviours comprise only one diagnostic criterion. Treatments for self-harm are mostly indicated for individuals with BPD. Emerging literature suggests that youth with histories of depression are at risk of both self-harm and completed suicide. For individuals with repeated self-harm, co-occurring suicidal ideation and behavior is not uncommon. In the field of self-harm research, two major positions and corresponding definitional terms have evolved. “Deliberate self-harm” is a broad definition that includes direct suicidal and non-suicidal forms of the behavior. “Non-suicidal self-injury” (NSSI) encompasses... (More)
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has largely been associated with self-harm and chronic suicidality, despite the fact that these behaviours comprise only one diagnostic criterion. Treatments for self-harm are mostly indicated for individuals with BPD. Emerging literature suggests that youth with histories of depression are at risk of both self-harm and completed suicide. For individuals with repeated self-harm, co-occurring suicidal ideation and behavior is not uncommon. In the field of self-harm research, two major positions and corresponding definitional terms have evolved. “Deliberate self-harm” is a broad definition that includes direct suicidal and non-suicidal forms of the behavior. “Non-suicidal self-injury” (NSSI) encompasses only behaviours resulting in direct tissue damage in the absence of suicidal intent. Neither position systematically evaluates indirect self-harm. The discrepancy between definitions and deficiency of either alone produces an inability to compare results in clinical research, and limits the applicability of evidence-based treatments. We propose that these behaviors are best understood as possible dimensions on a broad self-harm spectrum, within a theory derived from the literature on suicide, self-harm, NSSI, and BPD. Methods: Research and theory review. Results: A number of recent empirical studies have concluded that self-harm and suicide should not be considered separately, lending support to a broader definition of self-harm than that encompassed by NSSI alone. Extending the definitional scope of self-harm enables a more thorough understanding of indirect self-harming behaviors, proposed to have the same function as NSSI. These studies as well as Emerging Models from DSM-5 inform the proposed theory. Conclusion: The proposed unified theoretical framework provides a formulation of both NSSI and suicidal behavior as two dimensions on a broad spectrum of self-harming behaviors. The empirical and theoretical basis for the theory is presented alongside the clinical and research utility of integrating a literature that remains divergent. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/5155174
- author
- Liljedahl, Sophie LU and Westling, Sofie
- organization
- publishing date
- 2014
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- unpublished
- subject
- keywords
- self-harm, suicide
- conference name
- 3rd International Conference on Borderline Personality Disorder and Allied Disorders
- conference dates
- 2014-10-16 - 2014-10-18
- project
- Evaluating directness and lethality of self-harm across five behaviour groupings (5S-HM)
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 19e4834f-4ce7-4925-a55f-df6cfc7c97ec (old id 5155174)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 13:28:30
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 21:14:14
@misc{19e4834f-4ce7-4925-a55f-df6cfc7c97ec,
abstract = {{Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has largely been associated with self-harm and chronic suicidality, despite the fact that these behaviours comprise only one diagnostic criterion. Treatments for self-harm are mostly indicated for individuals with BPD. Emerging literature suggests that youth with histories of depression are at risk of both self-harm and completed suicide. For individuals with repeated self-harm, co-occurring suicidal ideation and behavior is not uncommon. In the field of self-harm research, two major positions and corresponding definitional terms have evolved. “Deliberate self-harm” is a broad definition that includes direct suicidal and non-suicidal forms of the behavior. “Non-suicidal self-injury” (NSSI) encompasses only behaviours resulting in direct tissue damage in the absence of suicidal intent. Neither position systematically evaluates indirect self-harm. The discrepancy between definitions and deficiency of either alone produces an inability to compare results in clinical research, and limits the applicability of evidence-based treatments. We propose that these behaviors are best understood as possible dimensions on a broad self-harm spectrum, within a theory derived from the literature on suicide, self-harm, NSSI, and BPD. Methods: Research and theory review. Results: A number of recent empirical studies have concluded that self-harm and suicide should not be considered separately, lending support to a broader definition of self-harm than that encompassed by NSSI alone. Extending the definitional scope of self-harm enables a more thorough understanding of indirect self-harming behaviors, proposed to have the same function as NSSI. These studies as well as Emerging Models from DSM-5 inform the proposed theory. Conclusion: The proposed unified theoretical framework provides a formulation of both NSSI and suicidal behavior as two dimensions on a broad spectrum of self-harming behaviors. The empirical and theoretical basis for the theory is presented alongside the clinical and research utility of integrating a literature that remains divergent.}},
author = {{Liljedahl, Sophie and Westling, Sofie}},
keywords = {{self-harm; suicide}},
language = {{eng}},
title = {{A unified theoretical framework for understanding suicidal and self-harming behavior: Synthesis of diverging definitions and perspectives}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/6128821/5155180.pdf}},
year = {{2014}},
}