OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in the general population is unknown. The present study aims to assess the prevalence and dimensionality of a large spectrum of SIBs in a community sample of young women. METHOD: A cohort of female subjects aged 18 through 25 years resident in 2 areas of a large city was involved in the study, which was conducted from December 1996 to August 1998. Subjects (N = 934) underwent a clinical interview to assess the presence of SIBs, childhood sexual and physical abuse, suicidality, use of illicit drugs, alcohol abuse, and DSM-IV lifetime eating disorder diagnosis. RESULTS: About 24% of the sample reported some type of SIB. The factor analysis revealed that the different types of SIBs tend to group into 4 dimensions: 2 characterized by impulsive features and the other 2 by compulsive features. Body image disturbance (p < .01), emotional distress (p < .001), alcohol/substance misuse (p < .05), and suicide attempts (p < .01) were significantly associated with both compulsive and impulsive SIBs. In addition, the presence of impulsive SIBs was significantly predicted by a lower level of education (p < .05), lifetime eating disorders (p < .01), and childhood abuse (p < .05), whereas skin picking/self-biting was predicted by childhood sexual molestation (p < .04) and childhood rape (p < .005). CONCLUSION: Self-injurious behaviors are common among young women. There is a significant association between SIBs and other forms of direct and indirect self-damaging behaviors, including alcohol abuse, use of illicit substances, suicidality, and eating disorders. Further research is needed to better understand the nosology of this spectrum of behaviors.
OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in the general population is unknown. The present study aims to assess the prevalence and dimensionality of a large spectrum of SIBs in a community sample of young women. METHOD: A cohort of female subjects aged 18 through 25 years resident in 2 areas of a large city was involved in the study, which was conducted from December 1996 to August 1998. Subjects (N = 934) underwent a clinical interview to assess the presence of SIBs, childhood sexual and physical abuse, suicidality, use of illicit drugs, alcohol abuse, and DSM-IV lifetime eating disorder diagnosis. RESULTS: About 24% of the sample reported some type of SIB. The factor analysis revealed that the different types of SIBs tend to group into 4 dimensions: 2 characterized by impulsive features and the other 2 by compulsive features. Body image disturbance (p < .01), emotional distress (p < .001), alcohol/substance misuse (p < .05), and suicide attempts (p < .01) were significantly associated with both compulsive and impulsive SIBs. In addition, the presence of impulsive SIBs was significantly predicted by a lower level of education (p < .05), lifetime eating disorders (p < .01), and childhood abuse (p < .05), whereas skin picking/self-biting was predicted by childhood sexual molestation (p < .04) and childhood rape (p < .005). CONCLUSION: Self-injurious behaviors are common among young women. There is a significant association between SIBs and other forms of direct and indirect self-damaging behaviors, including alcohol abuse, use of illicit substances, suicidality, and eating disorders. Further research is needed to better understand the nosology of this spectrum of behaviors.
Authors: Aslıhan Okan Ibiloğlu; Abdullah Atli; Mehmet Cemal Kaya; Süleyman Demir; Mahmut Bulut; Aytekin Sir Journal: Noro Psikiyatr Ars Date: 2016-06-01 Impact factor: 1.339
Authors: Shirley B Wang; Emily M Pisetsky; Julie M Skutch; Alan E Fruzzetti; Ann F Haynos Journal: Compr Psychiatry Date: 2018-02-11 Impact factor: 3.735